Footwear with jointed sole structure for ease of access

ABSTRACT

An article of footwear includes a sole structure that has a front midsole component and a rear midsole component. A connecting member connects the front midsole component to the rear midsole component. The connecting member defines a groove at a lower side of the sole structure between the front midsole component and the rear midsole component. The front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position. Confronting surfaces of the connecting member at the groove are closer to one another in the access position than in the use position so that the groove is relatively open in the use position, and the groove is relatively closed in the access position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of United States Application No.17/510,535, filed Oct. 26, 2021, which is a continuation of UnitedStates Application No. 16/718,845, filed Dec. 18, 2019, now U.S. Pat.No. 11,185,125, issued Nov. 30, 2021, which claims the benefit ofpriority to United States Provisional Application No. 62/786,056, filedDec. 28, 2018, and also claims the benefit of priority to United StatesProvisional Application No. 62/923,049, filed Oct. 18, 2019, and each ofwhich is incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to an article of footwear, andmore specifically to an article of footwear with a jointed solestructure for ease of access.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, placing footwear on a foot often requires the use of oneor both hands to stretch the ankle opening of a footwear upper, and holdthe rear portion during foot insertion. The fit of the upper is thenadjusted following foot insertion, such as by tying laces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only, areschematic in nature, and are intended to be exemplary rather than tolimit the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a lateral side view of an article of footwear with a solestructure in a use position.

FIG. 2 is a medial side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 withthe sole structure in the use position.

FIG. 3 is a medial side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 in anaccess position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary medial side view of the sole structure of FIG. 1in the use position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary medial side view of the sole structure of FIG. 1in the access position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a heel footbed of the solestructure, taken at lines 7-7 in FIG. 9 .

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 in the access position.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective and fragmentary view of the heel footbed ofthe sole structure of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 in the use position, showing the heel footbed moved past aprotrusion of a rear upper portion.

FIG. 11 is a perspective and fragmentary view of the rear midsolecomponent and rear upper portion of FIG. 10 , with the heel footbedremoved.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the rear midsolecomponent and rear upper portion of FIG. 11 taken at lines 12-12 in FIG.11 .

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the rear midsolecomponent and rear upper portion of FIG. 12 with the heel footbeddisposed in the use position.

FIG. 14 is a rear view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 in the useposition.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of an outsole of the sole structure of FIG. 1in the use position.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the sole structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofa sole structure for the article of footwear of FIG. 1 with a connectingmember that is a plate.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of aconnecting member for a sole structure of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 , with the connecting member in the access position.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the connecting member of FIG. 18 in ause position.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of aconnecting member for a sole structure of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 , with the connecting member in the access position.

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofa sole structure for the article of footwear of FIG. 1 with a connectingmember that is a plate.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of aconnecting member for a sole structure of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 , with the connecting member in the access position.

FIG. 23 is a medial side view of an alternative embodiment of an articleof footwear with a sole structure in a use position.

FIG. 24 is a plan view of an interior side of an elastic biasing memberremoved from the article of footwear of FIG. 23 .

FIG. 25 is a bottom view of the article of footwear of FIG. 23 .

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the sole structure of the articleof the sole structure of FIG. 25 taken at lines 26-26 in FIG. 25 .

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of a front midsole component and aplate of the sole structure of FIG. 26 .

FIG. 28 is a plan view of the plate of FIG. 27 .

FIG. 29 is a lateral side view of the plate of FIG. 27 .

FIG. 30 is a rear view of the plate of FIG. 27 .

FIG. 31 is a plan view of the front midsole component of FIG. 27 withhook and loop fastener portions secured to medial and lateral sidewalls.

FIG. 32 is a bottom view of the front midsole component of FIG. 27 .

FIG. 33 is a rear view of the front midsole component of FIG. 27 .

DESCRIPTION

An article of footwear disclosed herein may enable hands-free placementof the article of footwear on a foot by providing a sole structure withseparate front and rear midsole components connected to one another byat least one connecting member that defines at least one groove. Theconnecting member may be, for example, a portion of an outsole that maybe formed with the groove, a plate formed with the groove, and/or atextile component such as a textile sheet.

The connecting member particularly functions as a hinge or joint at thegroove, and the sole structure is able to pivot (e.g., articulate) atthe groove between a first orientation, referred to as a use position inwhich the groove is relatively open, and a second orientation, referredto as an access position in which the groove is relatively closed.

Confronting surfaces of the connecting member at the groove are closerto one another in the access position than in the use position so thatthe groove is relatively open in the use position and is relativelyclosed in the access position.

In some embodiments, separate front and rear upper portions may besecured to the front and rear midsole components.

At least parts of the front and rear upper portions may be further apartfrom one another in the access position, allowing easier foot entry intothe front upper portion, with the rear upper portion then automaticallyclosing around the foot as the footwear returns to the use positionunder a load of the foot.

The footwear may be made bi-stable in the access and use positions witha biasing member such as an elastic strap that assists entry andwithdrawal of the footwear without the use of hands, as well as securesthe footwear in the access and use positions. The hands-free operationmay be made possible by these and other aspects described herein.

In an example, an article of footwear may comprise a sole structure thatmay include a front midsole component and a rear midsole component.

A connecting member may connect the front midsole component to the rearmidsole component. The connecting member may define at least one grooveat a lower side of the sole structure between the front midsolecomponent and the rear midsole component. The front midsole componentand the rear midsole component may be pivotable relative to one anotherat the groove between a use position and an access position. The groovemay be relatively open in the use position, and the groove may berelatively closed in the access position.

In one or more implementations, the connecting member may be an outsolelining the rear wall of the front midsole component and the front wallof the rear midsole component in the groove.

Specifically, the rear midsole component may be separate from, notdirectly connected to, and non-integral with the front midsolecomponent. Such midsole components may also be referred to as divided.Similarly, the article of footwear may include a divided footwear upperhaving a front upper portion fixed to the front midsole component and aseparate rear upper portion fixed to the rear midsole component.

At least parts of the front upper portion and the rear upper portion maybe spaced further apart from one another in the access position than inthe use position.

In one or more implementations, a side wall of the front midsolecomponent and a side wall of the rear midsole component maysubstantially confront or be substantially opposed to one another abovethe groove in the use position. For example, a rear edge of the sidewall of the front midsole component and a front edge of the side wall ofthe rear midsole component may angle forward from the groove in the useposition, with the side wall of the rear midsole component extendingpartially over the side wall of the front midsole component forward ofthe groove. This particularly provides an area of overlap of the sidewall of the rear midsole component and the side wall of the frontmidsole component in the longitudinal direction of the sole structure.The side wall of the front midsole component particularly confronts theside wall of the rear midsole component forward of the groove in the useposition.

In one aspect, a front surface of the side wall of the rear midsolecomponent may be disposed at an acute angle to an exterior side surfaceof the side wall of the rear midsole component, and/or a rear surface ofthe side wall of the front midsole component may be disposed at anobtuse angle to an exterior side surface of the side wall of the frontmidsole component.

Specifically, the front surface of the side wall of the rear midsolecomponent may face the rear surface of the side wall of the frontmidsole component in the use position. For example, a front surface ofthe side wall of the rear midsole component may angle rearward from anouter edge of the front surface to an inner edge of the front surface,and a rear surface of the side wall of the front midsole component mayangle rearward from an outer edge of the front surface to an inner edgeof the front surface. In such configurations, any minor separationbetween the rear edge of the side wall of the front midsole componentand the front edge of the side wall of the rear midsole component in theuse position will be less noticeable, as the obtusely-angled rearsurface of the side wall of the front midsole component will be directlyinward of any such gap, rather than the gap extending straight throughthe side wall as it might if the front and rear surfaces were orthogonalto the exterior side surfaces of the side walls. Additionally, anymoisture will drain outward and downward along the rear surface of theside wall of the front midsole component, forward of the groove.

In an aspect, the front midsole component may include a heel footbedthat particularly extends over the groove and overlays the rear midsolecomponent in the use position. The heel footbed may be spaced apart fromthe rear upper portion in the access position. By extending rearward inthis manner, the heel footbed serves as a target for locating the footin alignment above the rear midsole component to allow the rear upperportion to easily surround the rear of the heel when the footwear ismoved to the use position by the weight of the foot.

Further particularly, the front midsole component may extend in aforefoot region, a midfoot region, and/or a heel region of the articleof footwear in the use position. For example, the heel footbed mayextend in the heel region in the use position. Interfitting features ofthe midsole components particularly may thus be disposed both forwardand rearward of the groove, with the front edge of the side wall of therear midsole component overlaying the rear edge of the side wall of thefront midsole component, while the rearward-extending heel footbed ofthe front midsole component overlays and locks to the rear midsolecomponent as described herein.

Additionally or alternatively, sides of the front upper portion and therear upper portion may overlap in the use position, providing greaterlateral support where they overlap. For example, the sides may overlapin the transverse direction in the use position in an embodiment inwhich forward ends of either or both of the medial side and lateral sideof the rear upper portion are disposed laterally-inward of rear ends ofthe medial and lateral sides of the front upper portion, orlaterally-outward of rear ends of the medial and lateral sides of thefront upper portion.

Furthermore, the heel footbed may include a body, and a plate embeddedin or secured to externally to the body. The plate particularly may berelatively more rigid than the body. For example, the plate may have afirst rigidity whereas the body has a second rigidity less than thefirst rigidity. The more rigid plate may enable smoother transitioningbetween the access and use positions, allowing the footbed to be moreeasily seated on the rear midsole component and within the rear upperportion.

The more rigid plate may stiffen the rear of the heel footbed, which mayprevent twisting of the heel footbed about the longitudinal axis of theheel footbed, enabling it to move more easily past the rear upperportion between the access position and the use position than would aheel footbed without the plate.

The plate may be entirely rearward of the groove in the use position ormay extend at least to the groove in the use position.

In one or more configurations, the heel footbed may further comprise anexternal stiffening layer on a rear of the body. The external stiffeninglayer may define a rear periphery of the heel footbed. The body may berelatively less hard than the external stiffening layer. For example,the body may have a first hardness and the external stiffening layer mayhave a second hardness greater than the first hardness.

Specifically, the outer facing surface of the harder external stiffeninglayer may also have a lower coefficient of friction than the outerfacing surface of the body and may enable the heel footbed to move moreeasily past the rear upper portion between the access position and theuse position than would a heel footbed without the external stiffeninglayer.

Particularly, the external stiffening layer may include at least one tabprotruding rearward at the rear periphery. The rear midsole componentmay include at least one rib that projects forward at a rear of afoot-facing surface of the rear midsole component. The tab(s) mayinterface with the rib(s) when the sole structure moves from the accessposition to the use position, the tab being disposed below the rib inthe use position.

In one example, the rear midsole component may include at least one bodyand at least one stiffening component disposed on the body. Thestiffening component may be relatively harder than the body and mayinclude the rib(s).

At least one of the rear midsole component or the heel footbed mayelastically deform when the tab(s) interface(s) with the rib(s), andresiliently return to a pre-deformed state when the sole structure is inthe use position, the rib(s) and the tab(s) locking the sole structurein the use position. The stiffening component may define at least onerecess below the rib(s), and the tab(s) may be at least partly disposedin the recess(es) when the sole structure is in the use position,further securing the heel footbed in the use position.

The rear upper portion may have a protrusion that protrudes forwardabove the heel footbed when the front midsole component and the rearmidsole component are in the use position. For example, the protrusionmay be compliant (e.g., compressible), and may be shaped to conform toand protect the Achilles of a wearer. Because the protruding tab is ofthe relatively harder material of the external stiffening layer, the tabmay compress the protrusion to move past the protrusion when the solestructure moves from the access position to the use position. Therigidity of the embedded plate particularly may also aid in enabling theheel footbed to compress the protrusion when the sole structure movesfrom the access position to the use position, allowing the footbed tomove past the protrusion.

Additionally or alternatively, the rear upper portion may include anelastic heel band that stretches to substantially conform to the rear ofa wearer’s foot to ensure a comfortable yet secure fit.

In one or more implementations, the article of footwear may include anelastic biasing member, such as an elastic strap, particularly fixed toa medial side wall and to a lateral side wall of the front midsolecomponent forward of the groove, and/or fixed to the rear midsolecomponent rearward of the groove.

In some implementations, the elastic biasing member may be removablyfixed to the medial side wall of the front midsole component at thefirst location with a first fastener, to the rear midsole component atthe second location with a second fastener, and/or to the lateral sidewall of the front midsole component at the third location with a thirdfastener. For example, hook-and-loop fasteners may be used at one ormore of the first, second, and third locations, including first fastenerportions secured to the front midsole component, and second fastenerportions secured to the elastic biasing member and releasably securableto the first fastener portions.

Various components of the sole structure described herein are elasticcomponents, such as the elastic biasing member, e.g., the elastic strap,and the outsole. The elastic component comprises an elastomericmaterial. The elastomeric material may be a thermoplastic elastomericmaterial or a thermoset elastomeric material. The elastomeric materialmay be a foamed elastomeric material, or an unfoamed elastomericmaterial. In particular examples, due to their greater tensile strength,unfoamed elastomeric materials may be used to form the elasticcomponent(s). The elastomeric material may be a crosslinked rubbermaterial, such as a sulfur or peroxide-cured rubber material.

The elastomeric material includes one or more elastomeric polymer. Theone or more elastomeric polymer may include an elastomeric polyurethane,an elastomeric polyester, an elastomeric polyether, an elastomericpolyamide, an elastomeric polyolefin, or any combination thereof. Theone or more elastomeric polymer may include a thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU). The one or more elastomeric polymer may include apolyether-polyurea copolymer.

The one or more elastomeric polymer may include a rubber. The rubber maybe a natural rubber, or a synthetic rubber, or a combination of both.Examples of types of rubbers include butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene(SBR) rubber, butyl rubber, isoprene rubber, urethane rubber, nitrilerubber, neoprene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber,ethylene-propylene rubber, urethane rubber, polynorbornene rubber,methyl methacrylate butadiene styrene (MBS) rubber, styrene ethylenebutylene (SEBS) rubber, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, and mixturesthereof. The rubber compound may be a virgin material, a regrindmaterial, and mixtures thereof.

The elastomeric material may (particularly further) comprise one or moreadditives independently selected from the group of crosslinking agents,plasticizers, mold release agents, lubricants, antioxidants, flameretardants, dyes, pigments, reinforcing and non-reinforcing fillers,fiber reinforcements, and light stabilizers.

In an aspect, the elastic biasing member may be bi-stable in the useposition and the access position. Stated differently, the elasticbiasing member may be in tension both when the sole structure is inaccess position and when the sole structure is in the use position. Inthe event that the elastic biasing member is secured to both the frontmidsole component and the rear midsole component, it may increase intension when the sole structure is between the use position and theaccess position.

Particularly, the elastic biasing member may be positioned so thatlongitudinal tensile forces in the elastic biasing member are partiallyrelieved when the footwear is in the use position and are also partiallyrelieved when the footwear is in the access position. Stateddifferently, the elastic biasing member causes the sole structure to bebi-stable, biasing it to the access and use positions. An applied force,such as the weight of a foot used to move the footwear from one positionto the other will be assisted by the elastic biasing member’s bias whichurges the sole structure to return to one or the other of the accessposition or the use position as opposed to remaining in an intermediateposition.

In one or more implementations, the elastic biasing member may be fixedto the medial side wall of the front midsole component at a firstlocation, to the rear midsole component at a second location, and/or tothe lateral side wall of the front midsole component at a thirdlocation. The elastic biasing member may be unfixed between the firstlocation and the second location, and between the second location andthe third location. This particularly allows the front and rear midsolecomponents to move relative to the unfixed portions of the elasticbiasing member when articulating between the access and use positions.

In one or more configurations, a rear edge of a side wall of the frontmidsole component may be adjacent to a front edge of a side wall of therear midsole component above the groove when the sole structure is inthe use position. The elastic biasing member may cover the rear edge andthe front edge when the sole structure is in the use position. In someembodiments, the elastic biasing member may completely cover the rearedge and the front edge when the sole structure is in the use position.

In one example, the sole structure may include an outsole, and the rearmidsole component may define a ridge at a rearmost extent of the rearmidsole component. The outsole may substantially wrap upward along therear midsole component and over the ridge. For example, to facilitatehands-free removal of the footwear, the rear midsole component mayprotrude rearward of the rear upper portion to the ridge, providing asurface for the opposite foot to press downward on as the wearer’s heelis lifted out of the footwear. This force particularly may cause thesole structure to move to the access position as the sole structurearticulates at the groove, with the rear upper portion slipping off ofthe foot, allowing foot withdrawal from the front upper portion.

Specifically, the outsole may be a harder material than the rear midsolecomponent, and by wrapping up over the ridge, the outsole reinforces thearea around the ridge, increasing the ability to endure the repeatedforces of the opposite foot used during removal of the footwear.

In another aspect, the outsole may have a bottom portion secured to abottom of the rear midsole component, and a rear portion secured to arear wall of the rear midsole component. The rear portion particularlymay be disposed at an obtuse angle to the bottom portion. With thisconfiguration, the bottom portion of the outsole may be a ground-contactsurface that contacts a horizontal ground plane in the use position, andthe rear portion of the outsole may be the ground-contact surface withthe horizontal ground plane in the access position. Such a configurationallows the sole structure to rest only on a forward portion of the frontmidsole component and the rear portion of the outsole on the rearmidsole component in the access position, with the sole structurearticulated upward at the groove.

For increased stability, the sole structure particularly may beconfigured to rest at three areas of the outsole in a tripod arrangementin the access position. More specifically, in addition to resting on afront portion of the outsole secured to the front midsole componentforward of the lifted groove, a rear portion of the outsole rearward ofthe groove may rest on two regions separated by a concavity at the outersurface of the outsole.

The sole structure may include an outsole having a front bottom portionsecured to a bottom of the front midsole component, a rear bottomportion secured to a bottom of the rear midsole component, and a rearportion secured to a rear wall of the rear midsole component.

At least one of the rear wall of the rear midsole component and the rearportion of the outsole particularly may have an outer surface with aconcavity. Specifically, in the access position, the sole structure maybe lifted away from the a horizontal ground plane at the groove and reston the front bottom portion of the outsole and on the rear portion ofthe outsole at a medial side of the concavity and at a lateral side ofthe concavity with the concavity spaced apart from the horizontal groundplane.

Particularly, the connecting member may comprise a textile component,such as a textile sheet. For example, the textile component may line therear wall of the front midsole component and the front wall of the rearmidsole component at the groove.

Further particularly, the connecting member may be connected to thefront midsole component and the rear midsole component to line a rearwall of the front midsole component and a front wall of the rear midsolecomponent at the groove. The connecting member particularly may bepre-formed to define the groove (e.g., the connecting member may formthe shape of the groove when it is freestanding, prior to beingconnected to the front and rear midsole components). For example, theconnecting member may be part of a unitary outsole or may be a componentof a multi-piece outsole. Thus, the connecting member may comprise thesame material as the outsole. Alternatively, the connecting member maybe a more rigid material than the outsole, such as a relatively rigidplastic plate.

In an embodiment, the plate may include a front portion connected to thefront midsole component and a rear portion connected to the rear midsolecomponent. The connecting member may further comprise a hinge pinextending transversely relative to and hingedly connecting the frontportion of the plate to the rear portion of the plate.

In any of the various embodiments of connecting members disclosedherein, the sole structure may also comprise one or more ribs secured atthe connecting member in the groove and extending outward into thegroove. For example, a front rib may be secured at a front wall of theconnecting member in the groove, and a rear rib may be secured at a rearwall of the connecting member in the groove. The ribs particularly mayfunction as bumpers or spacers to prevent the walls of the connectingmember from contacting each other in the closed position of the groove(e.g., in the access position of the sole structure) and/or particularlymay serve to reinforce the walls of the connecting member.

In an example, an article of footwear may comprise a sole structureincluding a front midsole component and a separate rear midsolecomponent. A rear wall of the front midsole component and a front wallof the rear midsole component may be juxtaposed.

The sole structure may also include an outsole connecting the frontmidsole component to the rear midsole component and disposed on the rearwall of the front midsole component and the front wall of the rearmidsole component and defining a groove at a lower side of the solestructure between the front midsole component and the rear midsolecomponent.

The article of footwear may further comprise a divided footwear upperincluding a front upper portion fixed to the front midsole component anda separate rear upper portion fixed to the rear midsole component. Thefront midsole component and the rear midsole component may be pivotablerelative to one another at the groove(s) between a use position and anaccess position. The outsole may line the rear wall and the front wall.

The front midsole component may include a heel footbed that at leastpartly extends over the groove and overlays the rear midsole componentin the use position. Rear edges of the side walls of the front midsolecomponent and front edges of the side walls of the rear midsolecomponent particularly may angle forward above the groove in the useposition, and/or the side walls of the rear midsole component may extendpartially over the side walls of the front midsole component forward ofthe groove.

In one or more configurations, the heel footbed may be spaced apart fromthe rear upper portion in the access position, extending rearward andupward from the front midsole component.

The rear midsole component may protrude rearward of the rear upperportion to a ridge above the rear wall of the rear midsole component.The outsole substantially may wrap upward along the rear midsolecomponent over the ridge. An elastic strap may be fixed to a medial sidewall of the front midsole component at a first location, to the rearmidsole component at a second location, and to a lateral side wall ofthe front midsole component at a third location and unfixed between thefirst location and the second location, and between the second locationand the third location.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear such as the article offootwear disclosed herein may include providing a connecting member witha front portion, a rear portion, and a transverse groove extendingbetween and separating the front portion and the rear portion. Themethod may comprise connecting a front midsole component to the frontportion of the connecting member and may further comprise connecting arear midsole component to the rear portion of the connecting member,with the front midsole component pivotable relative to the rear midsolecomponent at the groove.

In an example, the method may further comprise molding the connectingmember to form the front portion, the rear portion, and the transversegroove prior to connecting the front midsole component the front portionand the rear midsole component to the rear portion. In such anembodiment, connecting the front midsole component to the front portionof the connecting member and connecting the rear midsole component tothe rear portion of the connecting member may be by molding the frontmidsole component to the front portion of the connecting member andmolding the rear midsole component to the rear portion of the connectingmember.

The method may further comprise connecting a front portion of an outsoleto the front portion midsole component forward of the connecting member.The method may further comprise connecting a rear portion of the outsoleto the rear portion of the midsole component rearward of the connectingmember.

The connecting member may be an outsole or a portion of an outsole, ormay be a plate of a material different from and more rigid than theoutsole, and in either case may be pre-formed to define the groove. Inan aspect of the method, the connecting member may be a textilecomponent, and providing the connecting member may further compriseconnecting a front portion of an outsole to a front portion of a textilecomponent and connecting a rear portion of an outsole to a rear portionof the textile component. The textile component may define the groove.With any of these embodiments of a connecting member, the method mayfurther comprise securing a rib at a wall of the connecting member inthe groove.

Particularly, the connecting member, the front midsole component, andthe rear midsole component may be adhered to one another.

Further particularly, the connecting member, the front midsolecomponent, and the rear midsole component may be co-molded (e.g., theymay connect to one another as a result of co-molding).

Further particularly, connecting the front midsole component to thefront portion of the connecting member and connecting the rear midsolecomponent to the rear portion of the connecting member may be byprinting the front midsole component to the front portion of theconnecting member and printing the rear midsole component to the rearportion of the connecting member. For example, an additive printingprocess such as three-dimensional (3-D) printing may be used.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages ofthe present teachings are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the modes for carrying out the present teachings whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to likecomponents throughout the views, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of anarticle of footwear 10 (also referred to herein as footwear 10) thatincludes a sole structure 12 with a midsole 14 having a front midsolecomponent 14A and a rear midsole component 14B that is separate anddivided from the front midsole component 14A. Stated differently, thefront midsole component 14A particularly is not integrally formed with,is not unitary with, and/or is not directly attached to the rear midsolecomponent 14B. Instead, the front midsole component 14A and the rearmidsole component 14B are both attached to at least one connectingmember 16, which in the embodiment shown is an outsole 16. Theconnecting member 16 defines at least one groove 17 at a lower side orground-engaging side of the sole structure 12 between the front midsolecomponent 14A and the rear midsole component 14B, as further describedherein.

In FIG. 1 , the groove 17 particularly is configured as substantiallyhaving a triangular shape in a cross-section taken along a longitudinallength of the article of footwear 10. In other embodiments, the groove17 may be more semicircular, square, or rectangular in cross-section.The groove 17 may have any cross-sectional shape that allows the twomidsole components 14A, 14B to pivot relative to one another at thegroove 17. The peak of the groove 17 or top of the cross-section throughthe groove 17 particularly is configured to permit flexing of thematerial for opening and closing of the groove 17 while minimizing orreducing stress concentrations or fatigue. For example, if a top of thegroove 17 particularly extends from the lateral side 32 to the medialside 34 of the sole structure 12, then internal forces resulting fromthe flexing are spread across the width of the sole structure 12,reducing stress concentrations. Additionally, if the top of the groove17 particularly has a relatively rounded rather than a relativelypointed shape (e.g., does not have a pointed apex), internal forces arespread over a greater area of the material, reducing stressconcentrations in comparison to a pointed groove.

The article of footwear 10 may also include a divided footwear upper 18having a front upper portion 18A and a rear upper portion 18B. Asdiscussed herein, these and other features of the article of footwear 10enable an access position of the footwear (such as shown in FIG. 3 )that particularly affords easy, hands-free foot entry into the articleof footwear 10. Additionally, the footwear 10 adopts a use position(such as shown in FIG. 1 ) after foot entry, particularly also in ahands-free manner. The footwear 10 herein is depicted as a leisure shoeor an athletic shoe, but the present teachings are not limited to such,and also encompass dress shoes, work shoes, sandals, slippers, boots, orany other category of footwear.

The front midsole component 14A and the rear midsole component 14B arejuxtaposed with a rear wall 20 of the front midsole component 14A and afront wall 22 of the rear midsole component 14B defining an area for thegroove 17. The groove 17 particularly is at a lower side 24 of the solestructure 12 and/or is between the front midsole component 14A and therear midsole component 14B.

The outsole 16 particularly connects the front midsole component 14A tothe rear midsole component 14B and/or is disposed on the rear wall 20 ofthe front midsole component 14A and the front wall 22 of the rearmidsole component 14B and further defines the groove 17. For example,the outsole 16 may be secured to the front and rear midsole components14A, 14B with adhesive, by heat bonding, or otherwise.

The front midsole component 14A includes at least one flex groove 15 inthe forefoot region 26. The flex groove 15 is not as deep nor as wide asthe groove 17 and is defined by the front midsole component 14A. Asshown, the outsole 16 lines a front wall and a rear wall of the frontmidsole component 14A in the flex groove 15.

The front upper portion 18A of the divided upper 18 particularly isfixed to the front midsole component 14A, and/or the separate rear upperportion 18B particularly is fixed to the rear midsole component 14B.

The rear upper portion 18B may include several different materials. Forexample, the rear upper portion 18B may include an elastic heel band 19that stretches to conform to the rear of a wearer’s foot to ensure acomfortable yet secure fit. The elastic heel band 19 may be secured bystitching or otherwise at medial and lateral ends to the base layer 21of the rear upper portion 18B, and a retaining tab 23 may cross over theelastic heel band 19 to help locate it across the rear of the rear upperportion 18B.

The front midsole component 14A and the rear midsole component 14B arepivotable relative to one another at the groove 17 between a useposition of FIG. 1 and an access position of FIG. 3 . The dividedfootwear upper 18 particularly helps to facilitate pivoting of thefootwear 10 at the groove 17 and/or hands-free foot entry. The upper 18is referred to as divided because the front upper portion 18A and therear upper portion 18B are separate, discreet upper components that arenot physically connected to one another. As such, they do not interferewith one another when the footwear 10 moves from the access position tothe use position, or from the use position to the access position.Alternatively, the front upper portion 18A and the rear upper portion18B may be portions of a single, unitary, undivided upper. For example,the upper 18 may include gussets, folds, pleats, relatively elasticportions or the like extending between and connecting the front upperportion 18A and the rear upper portion 18B as a single, unitary upperwhile still allowing the upper 18 to widen at the ankle opening 46 tothe access position.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 , the groove 17 is relatively openand/or the front upper portion 18A and the rear upper portion 18B areadjacent to one another in the use position. As shown in FIG. 3 , thegroove 17 is relatively closed and at least parts of the front upperportion 18A and the rear upper portion 18B are spaced further apart fromone another in the access position than in the use position.

Confronting surfaces of the connecting member 16 at the groove(s) 17(e.g., the exterior surface 16B of the portion of the outsole 16 on thefront wall 22 of the rear midsole component 14B and the exterior surface16A of the portion of the outsole 16 on the rear wall 20 of the frontmidsole component 14A) are closer to one another in the access position(see FIG. 6 ) than in the use position (see FIG. 2 ) so that the groove17 is relatively open in the use position, and the groove 17 isrelatively closed in the access position.

Specifically, in the access position, when the groove 17 is relativelyclosed, the sole structure 12 particularly rests only on the frontportion 16E and the rear portion 16D of the outsole 16 as in FIG. 3 ,and/or the exterior surface 16A of the portion of the outsole 16 on therear wall 20 of the front midsole component 14A is in contact with theexterior surface 16B of the portion of the outsole 16 on the front wall22 of the rear midsole component 14B, or is at least closer to theexterior surface 16B than in the use position.

The exterior surfaces 16A, 16B may touch in the access position (seeFIG. 6 ) to provide a stop (e.g., prevent further rotation or pivotalmovement toward one another), but the exterior surfaces 16A, 16B neednot necessarily touch in the access position. The groove 17 isrelatively open when the heel footbed 38 overlays and contacts the rearmidsole component 14B, as discussed herein.

The outsole 16 may be pre-formed with the groove(s) 17 in the openposition of FIG. 5 . Stated differently, the outsole 16 may be moldedwith the groove(s) 17. The front and rear midsole components 14A, 14Bmay be separately molded, trimmed, or otherwise manufactured with theshapes shown in FIGS. 1-5 or may be molded as a single component that issubsequently cut into two separate components. The front and rearmidsole components 14A, 14B may then be adhered to the outsole 16 withthe pre-formed groove(s) 17.

With reference to FIG. 1 , the footwear 10 has three general regions: aforefoot region 26, a midfoot region 28, and a heel region 30 which arealso the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region,respectively, of the sole structure 12 and the upper 18. The footwear 10also includes a lateral side 32 and a medial side 34 (best shown in FIG.2 ) opposite to the lateral side 32. The forefoot region 26 generallyincludes portions of the article of footwear 10 corresponding with thetoes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges of awearer’s foot. The midfoot region 28 generally includes portions of thearticle of footwear 10 corresponding with the arch area of the foot,and/or the heel region 30 corresponds with rear portions of the foot,including the calcaneus bone. The lateral side 32 and medial side 34extend through each of forefoot region 26, the midfoot region 28, andthe heel region 30 and correspond with opposite sides of the article offootwear 10. The forefoot region 26, the midfoot region 28, the heelregion 30, the lateral side 32 and the medial side 34 are not intendedto demarcate precise areas of footwear 10 but are instead intended torepresent general areas of footwear 10 to aid in the followingdiscussion.

The front midsole component 14A may include a body 36A and the rearmidsole component 14B may include a separate body 36B. The bodies 36A,36B may comprise, for example, an elastomeric foam such as apolyurethane or ethylvinylacetate foam to attenuate ground reactionforces (i.e., provide cushioning) when compressed between the foot andthe ground during walking, running, or other ambulatory activities. Infurther configurations, either or both of the front midsole component14A and the rear midsole component 14B may incorporate fluid-filledchambers, plates, moderators, or other elements that further attenuateforces, enhance stability, or influence the motions of the foot.

In the embodiment shown, the foam of the cushioning layer (e.g., thebodies 36A, 36B) may include a foamed polymeric material and may be atleast partially a polyurethane (PU) foam, a polyurethane ethylene-vinylacetate (EVA) foam, and may include heat-expanded and molded EVA foampellets.

The foamed polymeric material includes one or more polymers. The one ormore polymers may include an elastomer, including a thermoplasticelastomer (TPE). The one or more polymers may include aliphaticpolymers, aromatic polymers, or mixture of both. In one example, the oneor more polymers may include homopolymers, copolymers (includingterpolymers), or mixtures of both. The copolymers may be randomcopolymers, block copolymers, alternating copolymers, periodiccopolymers, or graft copolymers, for instance. The one or more polymersmay include olefinic homopolymers or copolymers or a mixture of olefinichomopolymers and copolymers. Examples of olefinic polymers includepolyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). For example, the PE may be aPE homopolymer such as a low density PE or a high density PE, a lowmolecular weight PE or an ultra-high molecular weight PE, a linear PE ora branched chain PE, etc. The PE may be an ethylene copolymer such as,for example, an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, anethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer, an ethylene-ethyl acrylatecopolymer, an ethylene-unsaturated mono-fatty acid copolymer, etc. Theone or more polymers may include a polyacrylate such as a polyacrylicacid, an ester of a polyacrylic acid, a polyacrylonitrile, a polyacrylicacetate, a polymethyl acrylate, a polyethyl acrylate, a polybutylacrylate, a polymethyl methacrylate, a polyvinyl acetate, etc.,including derivatives thereof, copolymers thereof, and any mixturethereof, in one example. The one or more polymers may include anionomeric polymer. The ionomeric polymer may be a polycarboxylic acid ora derivative of a polycarboxylic acid, for instance. The ionomericpolymer may be a sodium salt, a magnesium salt, a potassium salt, or asalt of another metallic ion. The ionomeric polymer may be a fatty acidmodified ionomeric polymer. Examples of ionomeric polymers includepolystyrene sulfonate, and ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers. The oneor more polymers may include a polycarbonate. The one or more polymersmay include a fluoropolymer. The one or more polymers may include apolysiloxane. The one or more polymers may include a vinyl polymer suchas polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, etc.The one or more polymers may include a polystyrene. The polystyrene maybe a styrene copolymer such as, for example, an acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS), a styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), a styrene ethylenebutylene styrene (SEBS), a styrene ethylene propylene styrene (SEPS), astyrene butadiene styrene (SBS), etc. The one or more polymers mayinclude a polyamide (PA). The PA may be a PA 6, PA 66, PA 11, or acopolymer thereof. The polyester may be an aliphatic polyesterhomopolymer or copolymer such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid,polycaprolactone, polyhydroxybutyrate, and the like. The polyester maybe a semi-aromatic copolymer such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) orpolybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The one or more polymers may include apolyether such as a polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol,including copolymers thereof. The one or more polymers may include apolyurethane, including an aromatic polyurethane derived from anaromatic isocyanate such as diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) ortoluene diisocyanate (TDI), or an aliphatic polyurethane derived from analiphatic isocyanate such as hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) orisophone diisocyanate (IPDI), or a mixture of both an aromaticpolyurethane and an aliphatic polyurethane.

The foamed polymeric material may be a chemically foamed polymericmaterial, which is foamed using a chemical blowing agent that forms agas when heated. For example, the chemical blowing agent can be an azocompound such as adodicarbonamide, sodium bicarbonate, or an isocyanate.Alternatively or additionally, the foamed polymeric material may be aphysically foamed polymeric material, which is foamed using a physicalblowing agent which changes phase from a liquid or a supercritical fluidto a gas due to changes in temperature and/or pressure.

Optionally, in addition to the one or more polymers, the polymericmaterial may further include one or more fillers such as glass fiber,powdered glass, modified or natural silica, calcium carbonate, mica,paper, wood chips, modified or natural clays, modified or unmodifiedsynthetic clays, talc, etc. Similarly, the polymeric material optionallymay further include one or more colorants, such as pigments or dyes.Other optional components of the polymeric material include processingaids, ultra-violet light absorbers, and the like.

The foamed polymeric material may be a crosslinked foamed polymericmaterial, i.e., a foamed material in which covalent crosslinking bondsexist between at least a portion of the one or more polymers. Acrosslinked foamed polymeric material can be formed by including acrosslinking agent in the polymeric material used to form the foam. Thecrosslinking agent can be a peroxide-based crosslinking agent such asdicumyl peroxide. Alternatively, the foamed polymeric material can be anuncrosslinked foamed polymeric material which has thermoplasticproperties. The foamed polymeric material may be an elastomeric foamedmaterial.

The front midsole component 14A extends in the forefoot region 26 andthe midfoot region 28, and/or particularly includes a heel footbed 38(see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 4 ) that extends in the heel region 30.Accordingly, the front midsole component 14A particularly is afull-length midsole component. In other embodiments, there may be noheel footbed 38, or there may be a footbed portion extending rearwardover the groove 17 that does not extend fully to the heel region 30. Asshown in FIG. 10 , the heel footbed 38 extends the full width betweenthe medial and lateral sides 18B1 and 18B2 of the rear upper portion18B. In other embodiments, the heel footbed 38 need not extend the fullwidth.

The heel footbed 38 particularly is an integral portion of the frontmidsole component 14A. Stated differently, the front midsole component14A, including the heel footbed 38, may be a one-piece component, e.g.formed by injection molding or otherwise. In contrast, the rear midsolecomponent 14B particularly is not a full-length midsole component, as itextends in the heel region, but does not extend in the forefoot region26, and/or extends only slightly, if at all, in the midfoot region 28.The rear midsole component 14B particularly extends mainly rearward ofthe groove 17 in the heel region 30 and includes side walls that extendforward of the groove 17, as further discussed herein.

As shown, the groove 17 is at a boundary between the heel region 30 andthe midfoot region 28, so that a portion of the side walls that extendforward of the groove 17 in the use position may be in the midfootregion 28, but the rear midsole component 14B is mainly in the heelregion 30.

The front and rear midsole components 14A, 14B are selectively pivotablerelative to one another at the groove 17. For example, FIG. 1 shows thefootwear 10 in a first orientation, also referred to as the useposition, and FIG. 3 shows the footwear 10 in a second orientation, alsoreferred to as the access position. The groove 17 is wider in the firstorientation than in the second orientation.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the groove 17 is relatively open whenthe footwear 10 is in the use position, with an exterior surface 16A ofthe portion of the outsole 16 on the rear wall 20 of the front midsolecomponent 14A spaced apart from and not in contact with an exteriorsurface 16B of the portion of the outsole 16 on the front wall 22 of therear midsole component 14B.

When the footwear 10 is in the access position of FIG. 3 , the groove 17is relatively closed, as the exterior surface 16A of the portion of theoutsole 16 on the rear wall 20 of the front midsole component 14Asubstantially is in contact with the exterior surface 16B of the portionof the outsole 16 on the front wall 22 of the rear midsole component14B, or is at least closer to the exterior surface 16B than in the useposition.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , in the use position, the front midsolecomponent 14A and the rear midsole component 14B particularly aregenerally coplanar in a plane parallel to the plane shown in phantomrepresenting the ground surface GS and together form a footbed.

In the access position of FIG. 3 , a portion of the sole structure 12particularly is lifted away from the ground surface GS at the groove 17relative to the use position so that the rear midsole component 14Binclines from a rear end 42 of the rear midsole component 14B to theclosed groove 17, and the front midsole component 14A inclines from aforward end 44 of the front midsole component 14A to the closed groove17.

The front upper portion 18A and the rear upper portion 18B particularlydefine an ankle opening 46 that leads into the foot-receiving cavity 40in which a wearer’s foot is supported on the sole structure 12 andsecured within the upper 18 during use of the footwear 10. In the useposition, the size of the ankle opening 46 is determined by the positionof a terminal edge 48A of the front upper portion 18A and a terminaledge 48B of the rear upper portion 18B.

In the access position of FIG. 3 , at least parts of the front upperportion 18A and the rear upper portion 18B are further apart from oneanother, opening the ankle opening 46 wider than in the use position,allowing easier access to the foot-receiving cavity 40 from a reardirection. More specifically, the terminal edge 48A of the front upperportion 18A and the terminal edge 48B of the rear upper portion 18B thatdefine the ankle opening 46 are further apart from one another.

Specifically, due to the incline of the front upper portion 18Apresented in the access position, with the rear upper portion 18Bdisposed below the entry angle for the front upper portion 18A, a footcan slide forward into the foot-receiving cavity 40 at the front upperportion 18A with the toes entering at a downward and forward trajectory,using the heel footbed 38 as a guide, and particularly without a need tostretch, open, shift, or otherwise displace any portion of the footwear10.

When the foot is inserted into the front upper portion 18A andparticularly weight is placed on the front midsole component 14A, thefront midsole component 14A is urged to return to the use position, andthe rear midsole component 14B also returns to the use position, causingthe rear upper portion 18B to substantially surround a rear portion ofthe foot, capturing the foot within the foot-receiving cavity 40.

As is clear in FIG. 2 , the front and rear terminal edges 48A, 48B areconfigured to extend relatively high on the front and rear of the anklearea when a foot is inserted in the foot-receiving cavity 40.Configuring the upper portions 18A, 18B to wrap high on the ankle inthis manner can help to prevent withdrawal of the foot when the solestructure 12 is not in the access position. Use of relatively stiffmaterials for the upper portions 18A, 18B near the ankle opening 46particularly helps to prevent foot withdrawal except when the solestructure 12 is in the access position.

As best shown in FIG. 10 , the heel footbed 38 extends over the groove17 and/or overlays the rear midsole component 14B in the use position.The heel footbed 38 particularly is an integral part of the frontmidsole component 14A, disposed inward of side walls 60, 66 of the frontupper portion 18A and/or extending rearward beyond the side walls 60,66. The heel footbed 38 particularly is spaced apart from the rear upperportion 18B in the access position of FIG. 3 , extending rearward andupward from a forward portion of the front midsole component 14A. Byextending rearward in this manner, the heel footbed 38 is exposed andserves as a target for locating the foot in alignment above the rearmidsole component 14B to allow the rear upper portion 18B to easilysurround the rear of the heel when the footwear 10 is moved to the useposition by the weight of the foot.

Additionally, the upper edge of the rear upper portion 18B and the heelfootbed 38 may be at generally the same height when the sole structure12 is in the access position, as in FIG. 3 , which may help to prevent auser from inadvertently inserting their foot between the heel footbed 38and the rear upper portion 18B.

At least one elastic biasing member 50 extends along the lateral side 32(FIG. 1 ), the medial side 34 (FIG. 2 ) of the article of footwear 10and/or around a rear periphery 52 of the rear midsole component 14B. Theelastic biasing member 50 can be any resiliently stretchable material,such as rubber or elastic nylon. The elastic biasing member 50 is shownconfigured as a flat elastic strap but could alternatively be configuredas a rounded cord or otherwise.

Specifically, the elastic biasing member 50 is secured to the frontmidsole component 14A forward of the groove 17 both at the lateral side32 and the medial side 34 and is also secured to the rear midsolecomponent 14B. More specifically, the elastic biasing member 50 is fixedto a medial side wall 60 of the front midsole component 14A at a firstlocation 51 shown in FIG. 2 . The first location 51 particularly mayextend from point 50A to point 50B along the medial side wall 60 in FIG.2 .

The medial side wall 60 extends from the outsole 16 to an upper edge 62,shown with dashed lines in FIG. 2 as it is covered by the elasticbiasing member 50 in the use position of the footwear 10.

The elastic biasing member 50 particularly is fixed to the rear midsolecomponent 14B at a second location 53 best shown in FIG. 14 . The secondlocation 53 may extend from point 50C to point 50D substantially along arear 64 of the rear midsole component 14B, as shown in FIG. 14 .

The elastic biasing member 50 particularly is (also) fixed to thelateral side wall 66 of the front midsole component 14A at a thirdlocation 55 shown in FIG. 1 . The third location 55 may extend frompoint 50E to point 50F along the lateral side wall 66 in FIG. 1 .

The lateral side wall 66 extends from the outsole 16 to an upper edge69, shown with dashed lines in FIG. 1 as the upper edge 69 is covered bythe elastic biasing member 50 in the use position of the footwear 10.The elastic biasing member 50 particularly may cover a lower extent ofthe front upper portion 18A, and a lower extent of the rear upperportion 18B in the use position. The elastic biasing member 50 may beunfixed between the first location 51 and the second location 53 and/orunfixed between the second location 53 and the third location 55. Thisallows the front and rear midsole components 14A, 14B to move relativeto the unfixed portions of the elastic biasing member 50 whenarticulating between the access and use positions. It is apparent by acomparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 to FIGS. 3 and 4 , for example, that theelastic biasing member 50 is unfixed between the first location 51 andthe second location 53 and is also unfixed between the second location53 and the third location 55.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the elastic biasing member 50 particularlycovers only an upper extent of the side walls 60 and 66, and/or only anupper extent of the rear 64. In the embodiment shown, in the useposition, the elastic biasing member 50 covers a rear edge 66A of thelateral side wall 66 of the front midsole component 14A and a front edge63A of the lateral side wall 63 of the rear midsole component, and/or arear edge 60A of the medial side wall 60 of the front midsole component14A, and a front edge 61A of the medial side wall 61 of the rear midsolecomponent 14B.

Specifically, the elastic biasing member 50 completely covers the rearedge 66A, the front edge 63A, the rear edge 60A, and the front edge 61Ain the embodiment shown. By covering the adjacent edges 66A, 63A at thelateral side 32, and the adjacent edges 60A, 61A at the medial side 34,the biasing member 50 acts as a barrier to prevent dirt, debris, andmoisture from entering between the front and rear midsole components14A, 14B at the edges.

The elastic biasing member 50 particularly is of a length such that itis in tension when in the use position in order to keep the front andrear upper portions 18A, 18B contiguous with one another over the groove17 during wear. The length of the elastic biasing member 50 is such thatit is also in tension when the footwear 10 is in the access position ofFIG. 3 , in order to maintain the footwear 10 in the access position,ready for foot entry.

Specifically, the tension of the elastic biasing member 50 particularlyincreases as the elastic biasing member 50 is stretched in length as thefootwear 10 is moved from the access position to the use position, orfrom the use position to the access position, particularly making thefootwear 10 bi-stable in the use position and the access position. Insuch a configuration, longitudinal tensile forces in the elastic biasingmember 50 are partially relieved when the footwear is in the useposition or in the access position. Stated differently, the elasticbiasing member 50 particularly causes the sole structure 12 to bebi-stable, biasing it to the access and use positions. An applied force,such as the weight of a foot used to move the footwear 10 from oneposition to the other will be assisted by the elastic biasing member’s50 bias to remain in one or the other of the two positions as opposed toan intermediate position between the use position and the accessposition.

A force to stretch the elastic biasing member 50 must be applied toparticularly overcome the internal bias of the elastic biasing member 50in order to transition from the access position to the use position, orfrom the use position to the access position. The amount of forcenecessary to move the sole structure 12 from the access position to theuse position particularly is dictated in part by the weight of thearticle of footwear 10, the friction of the foot moving against thefootwear 10 as it is inserted, and/or the friction between the outsole16 and the ground (e.g., at the horizontal ground plane GS).

Specifically, the force may be applied by an incoming foot received inthe foot-receiving cavity 40 of the front upper portion 18A when thefootwear 10 is in the access position, and the increased force necessaryto stretch the elastic biasing member 50 to move to the use position issupplied by the wearer’s foot, which loads the footwear 10 (e.g., placesweight on the front midsole component 14A, including the heel footbed38), so that the elastic biasing member 50 is stretched during atransition from the access position to the use position.

With reference to FIG. 2 , the rear midsole component 14B defines aridge 68 particularly at a rearmost extent of the rear midsole component14B. Specifically, the ridge 68 is defined between a bottom portion 72Aof a rear wall 72 of the rear midsole component 14B and a top portion72B of the rear wall, as the bottom portion 72A slopes upward andoutward and the top portion 72B slopes downward and outward, definingthe ridge 68 where it meets the bottom portion 72A. The outsole 16 wrapsupward from a bottom wall 70 of the rear midsole component 14B, thenalong the bottom portion 72A of the rear wall 72, and/or over the ridge68 onto the top portion 72B of the rear wall 72.

To facilitate hands-free removal of the footwear 10, in the useposition, the rear midsole component 14B particularly protrudes rearwardof the rear upper portion 18B to the ridge 68, providing the top portion72B of the rear wall 72 as an angled surface on which the opposite footcan press downward as the heel is lifted. This causes the sole structure12 to articulate at the groove 17, moving to the access position, withthe rear upper portion 18B moving downward and away from the heel of thefoot, allowing hands-free foot withdrawal from the foot-receiving cavity40 of the front upper portion 18A.

The outsole 16 particularly may be a harder material than the rearmidsole component 14B, such as a natural or synthetic rubber orcomposite including rubber, with a hardness greater than the hardness ofthe body 36B of the rear midsole component 14B. Alternatively, theoutsole 16 may be natural or synthetic leather or another material.Hardness may be measured according to any suitable scale for measuringthe durometer hardness of foams and rubber, such as a Shore A or Shore Dscale, and according to any associated durometer test method.

Specifically, by wrapping up over the ridge 68, the outsole 16reinforces the area around the ridge 68, increasing the ability toendure the repeated forces of the opposite foot used during removal ofthe footwear 10. Fatigue life and environmental testing may be used toselect appropriate materials for the outsole 16. The ability of theoutsole 16 to bond to the midsole components 14A, 14B may also beconsidered in selecting materials for the outsole 16.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show that rear edges 60A, 66A of the respective side walls60, 66 of the front midsole component 14A and front edges 61A, 63A ofthe respective medial and lateral side walls 61, 63 of the rear midsolecomponent 14B angle forward substantially above the groove 17 in the useposition. This causes the side walls 61, 63 of the rear midsolecomponent 14B to extend partially over the side walls 60, 66,respectively, of the front midsole component 14A forward of the groove17.

Interfitting features of the midsole components 14A, 14B particularlyare thus disposed both forward and rearward of the groove 17: the sidewalls 61, 63 of the rear midsole component 14B overlaying the side walls60, 66 of the front midsole component 14A forward of the groove, and therearward-extending heel footbed 38 of the front midsole component 14Aoverlaying the rear midsole component 14B rearward of the groove 17.

FIG. 4 shows the bottom of the outsole, including the rear portion 16Dthat serves as part of the ground contact surface in the accessposition. The groove 17 is shown substantially closed, and the midsolecomponents 14A, 14B have moved relative to the unfixed portions of theelastic biasing member 50 from the use position. The second and thirdfixed locations 53 and 55 of the elastic biasing member 50 are shown inFIG. 4 .

The bottom portion 16C of the outsole 16 is a ground-contact surfacewith a horizontal ground plane GS in the use position, and/or the rearportion 16D of the outsole 16 is a ground-contact surface with thehorizontal ground plane GS in the access position. Due to inherentmanufacturing tolerances when molding a foam midsole or a polymericoutsole it is difficult to ensure that an outer surface of an outsolewill be perfectly flat when secured to the midsole. In the accessposition of the present embodiments, a convex outsole at the rear of thesole structure could create instability in the access position (e.g.,may cause the sole structure to tip sideways). Accordingly, instead ofattempting to achieve a flat design, the outer surface of the rearportion 16D particularly has a concavity 73 and/or the outsole 16 isspaced apart from the horizontal ground plane at the concavity 73 in theaccess position so that the ground-contact surface of the rear portion16D particularly includes a medial region 75A at a medial side of theconcavity 73 and/or a lateral region 75B at a lateral side of theconcavity 73.

Specifically, these two spaced apart areas in addition to a front region75C of the front portion 16E of the outsole 16 (see FIG. 3 ) that formthe ground contact surface in the access position are indicated withshading in FIG. 4 and/or form a tripod arrangement to stabilize the solestructure 12 in the access position. The concavity 73 particularlyensures that contact areas in the rear are near the medial and lateralsides rather than only at a portion of the middle as could occur with aconvex outsole at the rear portion 16D. The concavity 73 may be moldedinto the rear portion 16D and/or may result from a concavity in the rearmidsole component 14B to which the rear portion 16D is secured andlines.

With reference to FIG. 5 , the bottom portion 16C of the outsole 16particularly is secured to a bottom wall 70 of the rear midsolecomponent 14B, and/or the rear portion 16D of the outsole 16particularly is secured to the rear wall 72 of the rear midsolecomponent 14B. The rear portion 16D is disposed at an obtuse angle A1 tothe bottom portion 16C.

Specifically, an angle A from the ground plane GS to the rear portion16D of the outsole 16 may be equal to or approximately equal to theangle A between the exterior surfaces 16A, 16B of the outsole portionslining the open groove 17. With this configuration, the bottom portion16C of the outsole 16 particularly is a ground-contact surface with ahorizontal ground plane GS in the use position, and/or the rear portion16D of the outsole particularly is a ground-contact surface with thehorizontal ground plane GS in the access position. Such a configurationallows the sole structure 12 specifically to rest only on a frontportion 16E of the outsole 16 on the front midsole component 14A and therear portion 16D of the outsole 16 (at the medial region 75A and thelateral region 75B) on the rear midsole component 14B in the accessposition, with the sole structure 12 articulated upward at the groove17, as shown in FIG. 3 .

In FIG. 5 , the elastic biasing member 50 is not shown so that theangling of the medial side walls 60, 61 of the front and rear midsolecomponents 14A, 14B in the use position is more easily shown. The medialside wall 60 of the front midsole component 14A and the medial side wall61 of the rear midsole component 14B are shown confronting one anotherabove and forward of the groove 17 in the use position.

Specifically, the rear edge 60A of the medial side wall 60 and the frontedge 61A of the medial side wall 61 angle forward from the groove 17 inthe use position. Due to this angling, the medial side wall 61 of therear midsole component 14B extends partially over the side wall 60 ofthe front midsole component 14A forward of the groove 17. Thisparticularly provides an area of overlap of the medial side wall 61 ofthe rear midsole component 14B and the medial side wall 60 of the frontmidsole component 14A in the longitudinal direction of the solestructure 12. The same is true of the lateral side walls 63, 66 shown inFIG. 1 . The lateral side wall 63 of the rear midsole component 14Bparticularly also has an area of overlap with the lateral side wall 66of the front midsole component 14A.

FIG. 6 shows the sole structure 12 in fragmentary view in the accessposition. The sole structure 12 rests on the rear portion 16D of theoutsole 16 (at the medial region 75A and the lateral region 75B, bestshown in FIG. 4 ). The groove 17 is shown fully closed, with thesurfaces 16A, 16B substantially in contact with one another. In someconfigurations, the groove 17 may be partially closed, but not fullyclosed in the access position. Specifically, a rear surface 60B of theside wall 60 of the front midsole component 14A is exposed in the accessposition, as discussed further with respect to FIG. 8 .

The heel footbed 38 is shown extending above the rear midsole component14B. In FIG. 6 , the heel footbed 38 particularly includes the portionof the body 36A of the front midsole component 14A that extends rearwardto form the heel footbed 38. As shown by the flare of the heel footbed38, the heel footbed 38 particularly increases in thickness in therearward direction, providing additional cushioning in the heel region30 of FIG. 1 . A liner 74 of cloth or other material may be secured tothe top surface of the body 36A. The liner 74 serves as the contactsurface for the foot.

Specifically, a plate 76 is embedded in the body 36A. The plate 76 maybe a material such as a plastic, nylon, carbon fiber, or a composite,that is relatively more rigid than the body 36A. Stated differently, theplate 76 particularly may have a first rigidity whereas the body 36A mayhave a second rigidity less than the first rigidity. For example, thefirst rigidity may be a bending stiffness of the body 36A, and thesecond rigidity may be a bending stiffness of the plate 76. The morerigid plate 76 stiffens the heel footbed 38, allowing it to more easilymove past the inner surfaces of the rear upper portion 18B whentransitioning between access and use positions than would a heel footbedwithout the plate 76. Fatigue life and environmental testing may be usedto select appropriate materials for the plate 76. The ability of theplate 76 to bond to the body 36A may also be considered in selectingmaterials for the plate 76.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the plate 76 is in the heel region 30 and isentirely rearward of the groove 17 when the footwear 10 is in the useposition. Alternatively, the plate 76 may extend at least to the groove17 (e.g., to the groove 17, or more forward than the groove 17), such asto the midfoot region 28 or the forefoot region 26.

The heel footbed 38 particularly includes a stiffening layer 78,particularly an external stiffening layer 78, on a rear of the body 36A.The external stiffening layer 78 may be secured to the body 36A, such aswith adhesive, or may be coated on the body 36A, or otherwise applied todefine a rear periphery P of the heel footbed 38. In one example, theexternal stiffening layer 78 is molded separately from the body 36A andis then adhered to the body 36A. In another example, foam used to formthe body 36A may be processed such as by temperature-controlled curingso that the external stiffening layer is an integral external skin ofthe body 36A that is more dense than a remaining internal portion of thebody 36A that it covers.

With reference to FIG. 7 , the external stiffening layer 78 extendsaround a rear 79 of the body 36A from the medial side (FIG. 6 ) to thelateral side (FIG. 9 ) and/or extends forward under a bottom 80 of thebody 36A (FIG. 7 ). FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the heelfootbed 38, taken at lines 7-7 in FIG. 9 . The body 36A may berelatively less hard than the external stiffening layer 78. For example,the body 36A may have a first hardness and the external stiffening layer78 may have a second hardness greater than the first hardness.

The harder external stiffening layer 78 particularly may also have alower coefficient of friction than the body 36A, which may enable theheel footbed 38 to move more easily past the rear upper portion 18Bbetween the access position and the use position than would a heelfootbed 38 without the external stiffening layer 78.

The external stiffening layer 78 particularly protects the heel footbed38 from wear as it interfaces with the rear upper portion 18B whenmoving between the access and use positions. For example, the body 36Amay be elastomeric foam, as discussed, and the external stiffening layer78 may be a semi-rigid or rigid plastic (such as a thermoplastic), acomposite, nylon, a polyether block amide such as PEBAX® available fromArkema, Inc. in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania USA, a fiberglassreinforced polyamide, a rigid thermoplastic polyurethane (with orwithout glass fiber).

The external stiffening layer 78 particularly includes at least one tab82 substantially protruding rearward at the rear periphery P. Becausethe protruding tab 82 is of the harder material of the externalstiffening layer 78, the tab 82 can compress and move past softer,compressible portions of the rear upper portion 18B and/or interlockwith the rear midsole component 14B, as further discussed herein. Thetab 82 is shown as the rearmost extent of the heel footbed 38, and theexternal stiffening layer 78 is shown extending under the body 36A andestablishing a rear periphery P of the heel footbed 38.

FIG. 8 is a perspective and fragmentary view of the article of footwear10 in the access position, with a vantage point from above, lookingdownward and rearward at the medial side 34 of the footwear 10. A frontsurface 61B of the side wall 61 of the rear midsole component 14Bparticularly faces a rear surface 60B of the side wall 60 of the frontmidsole component 14A in the use position. The front surface 61Bparticularly angles rearward from the outer edge 61A (also referred toas the front edge 61A) of the front surface 61B to an inner edge 61D ofthe front surface 61B.

The rear surface 60B of the side wall 60 of the front midsole component14A particularly angles rearward from the outer edge 60A (also referredto as the rear edge 60A) of the rear surface 60B to an inner edge 60D ofthe rear surface 60B. An angle C between the exterior side surface 61Cof the side wall 61 of the rear midsole component 14B and the frontsurface 61B of the side wall 61 particularly is an acute angle. An angleB between the exterior side surface 60C of the side wall 60 of the frontmidsole component 14A and the rear surface 60B of the side wall 60particularly is an obtuse angle. The angles B and C particularly may becomplementary angles. In other words, the sum of the angles B and C maybe 180 degrees. This allows the front surface 61B and the rear surface60B to be coextensive, and allows the side surfaces 60C, 61C to be flushwith one another at the closed groove 17 in the use position. In suchconfigurations, any minor separation between the rear edge 60A and thefront edge 61A in the use position will be less noticeable, as theobtusely-angled, rear surface 60B will be directly inward of any gapbetween the exterior side surfaces 60C, 61C, rather than the gapextending normal to the exterior side surfaces 60C, 61C as it would ifthe front and rear surfaces 61B, 60B were orthogonal to the exteriorside surfaces 60C, 61C. Additionally, with the edges 60A and 61A and theedges 63A, 66A extending forward of the groove 17 in the use position,any water or other liquid that may inadvertently move inward of theedges will tend to drain outward and downward along the rear surface 60Bforward of the groove 17, and along a like surface on the lateral side32.

FIG. 9 is a perspective fragmentary view of the heel footbed 38, from avantage point rearward of and at the lateral side of the heel footbed 38and looking forward. FIG. 9 illustrates the external stiffening layer 78defining the rear periphery P of the heel footbed 38, with the tab 82defining the rearmost extent.

FIG. 10 is a perspective fragmentary view of the article of footwear 10in the use position, from a vantage point above and looking downward andrearward at the medial side 34 of the footwear 10. Sides 18A1, 18A2 ofthe front upper portion 18A and sides 18B1, 18B2 of the rear upperportion 18B particularly overlap in the use position. For example, thesides overlap in the transverse direction in the use position as forwardends of the medial and lateral sides 18B1, 18B2 of the rear upperportion 18B are disposed laterally-outward of rear ends of medial andlateral sides 18A1, 18A2 of the front upper portion 18A. Alternatively,the footwear 10 could be configured so that forward ends of the medialand lateral sides of the rear upper portion 18B are laterally-inward ofrear ends of medial and lateral sides of the front upper portion 18A.The footwear upper 18 thus has increased thickness where the sides ofthe front and rear upper portions 18A, 18B overlap in the heel region30. The increased thickness may lend lateral stability to the heelregion 30 of the upper 18 in the use position.

The rear periphery P of the heel footbed 38 is surrounded by the rearupper portion 18B and overlays the rear midsole component 14B in the useposition shown in FIG. 10 . The heel footbed 38 has a transverse widthless than the width of the space between the sides 18A1, 18A2 of therear upper portion 18B. The heel footbed 38 is within the foot-receivingcavity 40 formed by the upper portions 18A, 18B in the use position.

The rear upper portion 18B includes at least one compliant protrusion 88that protrudes forward into the foot-receiving cavity 40 above the heelfootbed 38 when the article of footwear 10 is in the use position. Theprotrusion 88 may be, for example, a bulge of foam padding at the innerperiphery of the rear upper portion 18B below the rear edge 48B. Theprotrusion 88 particularly provides enough compliance to permit the heelfootbed 38 to move past the protrusion 88 when moving to the accessposition, and so that the rear upper portion 18B comfortably secures toankles of different girths. For example, the protrusion 88 may be shapedto conform to and protect the Achilles. Additionally, the elastic heelband 19 stretches to conform to the rear of a wearer’s foot and biasesthe protrusion 88 forward toward the foot to ensure a comfortable yetsecure fit.

Because the protruding tab 82 is of the relatively hard material of theexternal stiffening layer 78, the tab 82 may compress the protrusion 88to move past the protrusion 88 when the rear of the heel footbed 38moves from the access position to the use position or from the useposition to the access position along the double-sided arrow 90representing the direction of motion. The rigidity of the embedded plate76 particularly may also prevent twisting of the heel footbed 38,further enabling the heel footbed 38 to compress the compliantprotrusion 88 when the sole structure 12 moves from the access positionto the use position, allowing the heel footbed 38 to move past theprotrusion 88.

With reference to FIG. 11 , the rear midsole component 14B includes atleast one stiffening component 91 particularly disposed on the body 36B.More specifically, the stiffening component 91 is adhered or otherwisesecured to the body 36B so that the stiffening component 91 at leastpartly is exposed at a foot-facing surface 92 of the body 36B. Thestiffening component 91 particularly is relatively harder than the body36B. For example, the body 36B may be elastomeric foam, as discussed,and the stiffening component 91 may be a plastic (such as athermoplastic), a composite, nylon, a polyether block amide such asPEBAX® available from Arkema, Inc. in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania USA,a fiberglass reinforced polyamide, a rigid thermoplastic polyurethane(with or without glass fiber).

The stiffening component 91 includes at least one rib 93 that projectsforward at a rear of the foot-facing surface 92. The projection of therib 93 is best shown in FIG. 12 . As such, the rib 93 protrudes into thefoot-receiving cavity 40 over the bottom portion of the foot-facingsurface 92. In another embodiment, the body 36B may define at least onerib.

As best shown in FIG. 12 , the stiffening component 91 also defines arecess 94 below the rib 93 and/or includes a lower portion 95 extendingforward along the foot-facing surface 92. In other embodiments, thestiffening component 91 may include only the rib 93. The recess 94particularly may be at an aperture defined by the stiffening component91. Due to its protruding construction at the rib 93, the tab 82 of theexternal stiffening layer 78 interfaces with the rib 93 when the solestructure 12 moves from the access position to the use position, andwhen the sole structure 12 moves from the use position to the accessposition.

The extension of the tab 82 rearward, and the protrusion of the rib 93forward causes the relatively soft body 36A at the heel footbed 38and/or the relatively soft body 36B of the rear midsole component 14B toelastically deform in the longitudinal direction of the footwear 10 inorder to allow the tab 82 to ride along the exterior surface of the rib93 and move over the rib 93. The embedded plate 76 particularly helps toprevent twisting or buckling of the heel footbed 38 during thedeformation. Once the tab 82 moves past the rib 93, the body 36A and/or36B resiliently recovers from the elastic deformation by springing backto a pre-deformed state (e.g., the respective shape prior to thedeformation caused by the tab 82 interfacing with the rib 93, but as maybe different than when the sole structure 12 is in the access positiondue to any deformation caused by the weight of the foot of the wearer).The interfacing of the tab 82 and the rib 93 particularly is thus asnap-fit or interlocking feature.

The deformation and recovery particularly may provide an auditory and/orsensory signal to the wearer that the sole structure 12 has completedmovement to the use position. The relatively hard materials of the rib93 and tab 82 may provide an audible click when the tab 82 interfereswith and moves past the rib 93, serving as a signal that the solestructure 12 has completed movement to the use position. Additionally oralternatively, movement of the body 36A or 36B during deformation andresilient spring-back may be felt by wearer through the overlying footcontacting the bodies 36A, 36B, serving as a sensory signal indicatingthat the sole structure has completed movement to the use position.

With the weight of a foot applied, the bottom 80 of the body 36A restson the foot-facing surface 92. Without the application of force, the tab82 will not move past the rib 93, either from above (e.g., from theaccess position to the use position) or from below (e.g., from the useposition to the access position). Together the tab 82 and rib 93function as a lock to retain the heel footbed 38 in the use position.The tab 82 may be disposed in the recess 94 when the sole structure 12is in the use position, as best shown in FIG. 13 .

Accordingly, the rear periphery P of the heel footbed 38 particularly issurrounded by the rear upper portion 18B and the heel footbed 38overlays the rear midsole component 14B in the use position. Theinterfitting of the heel footbed 38 of the front midsole component 14Awith the rear midsole component 14B in the use position particularlyhelps stabilize the sole structure 12 in the use position. The compliantprotrusion 88 particularly helps to further stabilizes the divided upper18 in the use position as it provides at least some resistance to theheel footbed 38 moving past the compliant protrusion 88 out of thefoot-receiving cavity 40.

FIG. 14 shows the outsole 16 wrapping upward along the rear midsolecomponent 14B and over the ridge 68. The concavity 73 is apparent inFIGS. 12-15 . The elastic heel band 19 is shown extending across therear of the rear upper portion 18B from the lateral side 32 to themedial side 34. The elastic biasing member 50 is shown secured at thesecond location 53 to the rear midsole component 14B.

FIG. 15 shows the connecting member 16 (outsole 16), including thebottom portion 16C, which particularly serves as the ground contactsurface in the use position, and/or the rear portion 16D and frontportion 16E which particularly serve as the ground contact surface inthe access position. The outsole 16 particularly is shown as one-piecefrom the forefoot region 26 to the heel region 30 and extending from thelateral side 32 to the medial side 34. In other embodiments, the outsolecould be multiple discreet pieces, including a piece that extendslongitudinally and laterally across and lines the groove 17. In otherembodiments, the connecting member 16 may only extend partway across thewidth of the groove (e.g., only partway from the medial side to thelateral side of the midsole components 14A, 14B) and need not extendlongitudinally beyond the groove 17. However, when the connecting memberextends longitudinally beyond the groove 17 and extends transverselysubstantially across the width of the sole structure at the groove 17,such as the outsole 16 shown, twisting of the front midsole component14A relative to the rear midsole component 14B during movement of thesole structure 12 between the access and use positions may be minimized.

The groove 17 particularly is shown as asymmetric, in that the exteriorsurface 16A of the outsole 16 lining the front wall of the groove 17 maybe slightly wider in the longitudinal direction than the rear exteriorsurface 16B of the outsole 16 lining the rear wall of the groove 17.

FIG. 16 shows the sole structure 12 of FIG. 1 in an exploded view. Theoutsole 16 may be pre-formed by injection molding, compression moldingor otherwise to include the groove 17. In one example, after the outsole16 is formed, the bottom of the front midsole component 14A is connectedto the upper surface 16F of the outsole 16 forward of the groove 17(e.g., including the front portion 16E) and at the front half of thegroove 17 so that the outsole 16 lines the rear wall 20 of the frontmidsole component 14A at the groove 17. The bottom of the rear midsolecomponent 14B is connected to the upper surface 16G of the outsole 16rearward of the groove 17 (e.g., including the rear portion 16D of theoutsole 16) so that the outsole 16 lines the front wall 22 of the rearmidsole component 14B at the groove 17. The front midsole component 14Aand the rear midsole component 14B may be connected to the outsole 16 inthis manner by adhesive.

Alternatively, the components of the sole structure 12 may be insertmolded particularly by inserting the outsole 16 with the pre-formedgroove 17 into a mold and injecting foam or other material into the moldto simultaneously form and connect the front midsole component 14A andthe rear midsole component 14B to the outsole 16. In another example,the front midsole component 14A and the rear midsole component 14B maybe connected in an additive manner to the outsole 16 with the pre-formedgroove 17, such as by 3-D printing the front midsole component 14A andthe rear midsole component 14B onto the upper surfaces 16F, 16G of theoutsole 16.

FIG. 17 shows an alternative embodiment of a sole structure 112 withinthe scope of the present teachings. The sole structure 112 includes aconnecting member 116 that may be referred to as a plate 116 and/or maypre-molded with the groove 17. In some embodiments, the plate 116 may bethe same material as the front and rear portions 16I, 16J of the outsole16 and may be considered as part of the outsole 16. In otherembodiments, the plate 116 may be a rigid or semi-rigid plastic such asa thermoplastic polyurethane.

Specifically, the plate 116 is connected to the rear wall 20 of thefront midsole component 14A, to the bottom of the front midsolecomponent 14A forward of the rear wall 20, to the front wall 22 of therear midsole component 14B, and/or to the bottom of the rear midsolecomponent 14B just rearward of the front wall 22. The plate 116 thusparticularly lines the rear wall 20 and the front wall 22 at the groove17. The plate 116 has one or more notches 117 at the medial and/orlateral sides near a peak 119 of the plate 116 over the groove 17 toparticularly reduce stress concentrations at the medial and lateralsides of the peak 119. The notches 117 may be smaller than shown, or theplate 116 may have no notches 117.

Specifically, one or more ribs 121A, 121B may be secured at the wall(s)116C, 116D of the plate 116 in the groove 17. The ribs 121A, 121Bparticularly may serve as reinforcing members and/or bumpers or spacersin the groove 17. For example, the ribs 121A, 121B may extend slightlyoutward from the walls 116C, 116D into the groove 17 so that the ribs121A, 121B rather than the walls 116C, 116D contact one another in theaccess position (e.g., when the groove 17 is closed). The ribs 121A,121B do not extend across the top of the groove 17 between the walls116C, 116D so as not to increase resistance to pivoting of the solestructure 12 at the groove 17.

The front midsole component 14A particularly is connected to a frontportion 16J of the outsole 16 at the upper surface 16F of the outsole 16forward of the connecting member 116.

The rear midsole component 14B particularly is connected to a rearportion 16I of the outsole 16 at the upper surface 16G of the outsole 16rearward of the plate 116.

The front midsole component 14A and/or the rear midsole component 14Bmay be connected to the outsole 16 in this manner by bonding such aswith adhesive, or by insert molding, co-molding, and/or additive 3-Dprinting similarly as described with respect to the sole structure 12.

The plate 116 and the outsole portions 16J and 16I particularly may beconfigured to interfit. For example, a rear edge 16 K of the outsoleportion 16J may be shaped to follow and/or abut a front edge 116A of theplate 116 from the medial side 34 to the lateral side 32 of the solestructure 112. Similarly, a forward edge 16L of the outsole portion 16Imay be shaped to follow and/or abut a rear edge 116B of the plate 116from the medial side 34 to the lateral side 32.

In the embodiment shown, the rear edge 16 K of the front portion 16J ofthe outsole 16 slightly overlaps the front edge 116A of the plate 116,and the forward edge 16L of the rear portion 16I of the outsole 16slightly overlaps the rear edge 116B of the plate 116 so that the edges116A, 116B of the plate 116 are disposed between the outsole 16 and themidsole components 14A, 14B, respectively.

FIG. 18 shows an alternative embodiment of a connecting member 216 thatmay be connected with the front and rear midsole components 14A, 14B.The connecting member 216 particularly may be a plate 116 that interfitswith outsole components, and/or may be more rigid than the outsolecomponents, may be a different material than the outsole components, ormay be the same material as the outsole components. Alternatively, theconnecting member 216 may be dimensioned as a unitary outsole.

The connecting member 216 particularly includes at least one pre-formedtransverse groove 217 that particularly extends from a medial side 34 toa lateral side 32 of the connecting member 216. The groove 217particularly is a complex groove rather than a single, inverted V as inFIG. 1 .

Specifically, the complex groove 217 is pre-formed with a centraltransverse groove 217A that forms an inverted V at a bottom side 216A ofthe plate 216. The complex groove 217 particularly is pre-formed with aforward transverse groove 217B of a top side 216B of the plate 216particularly extending transversely from the medial side 34 to thelateral side 32 forward of and parallel with the central transversegroove 217A. The complex groove 217 particularly is pre-formed with arearward transverse groove 217C particularly extending transversely fromthe medial side to the lateral side rearward of and parallel with thecentral transverse groove 217A.

A peak 217D particularly is formed to extend transversely over thecentral transverse groove 217A and/or between the front and reartransverse grooves 217B, 217C. In the use position shown in FIG. 18 ,the groove 217A is relatively open so that the peak 217D is relativelyflattened.

Specifically, in the access position shown in FIG. 19 , the groove 217Ais relatively closed and the peak is relatively protruding between thegrooves 217B, 217C. The grooves 217B, 217C together form a relativelyU-shaped channel in the use position, and together form an undulating,W-shaped channel in the access position.

FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of a connecting member 316 pre-formed withat least one groove 317. The connecting member 316 particularly isrelatively thin at a rounded peak 319 of the groove 317 to decrease thebending stiffness of the connecting member 316 at groove 317. Forexample, the connecting member 316 has a relatively thin wall portion319A at the rounded peak 319 that is integrally formed with andtransitions to relatively thick wall portions 319B forward and rearwardof the relatively thin wall portion 319A. Because the relatively thinwall portion 319A is rounded at the peak 319, internal forces aredispersed rather than concentrated during bending.

FIG. 21 shows an alternative embodiment of a sole structure 412 with aconnecting member 416 that particularly is a relatively thin, flexibletextile component such as a textile sheet. The front portion 16J of theoutsole 16 is connected to a front portion 416A of the textile component416 such as by bonding with adhesive, by sewing, or by thermal-bonding.

The rear portion 16I of the outsole 16 particularly is connected to arear portion 416B of the textile component 416 such as by bonding withadhesive, by sewing, or by thermal-bonding. A rear central portion 416Cof the textile component 416 particularly is secured to the front wall22 and the bottom of the rear midsole component 14A is secured to theupper surface 16G of the rear portion 16I.

The rear portion 416B of the textile component 416 may be sandwichedbetween the rear midsole component 14B and the rear outsole portion 16I.A front central portion 416D of the textile component 416 particularlyis connected to the rear wall 20 of the front midsole component 14A. Thefront portion 416A of the textile component 416 may be sandwichedbetween the front midsole component 14A and the outsole portion 16J. Theconnecting member 416 thus lines the rear wall 20 and the front wall 22.

In the use position, the rear wall 20 and the front wall 22 particularlyare juxtaposed and form an inverted V shape, as in FIG. 1 , but with thetextile component 416 rather than the outsole 16 lining the rear wall 20and the front wall 22 and defining the groove 17. The front midsolecomponent 14A and the rear midsole component 14B may be connected to theoutsole 16 by bonding such as with adhesive, or by insert molding,co-molding, or additive 3-D printing similarly as described with respectto the sole structure 12.

FIG. 22 shows another embodiment of a connecting member. The connectingmember 516 includes a front portion 516A and a rear portion 516B. Thefront and rear portions 516A, 516B particularly may be a relativelyrigid or semi-rigid plastic, may serve as an outsole, or may interfitwith outsole components and be a different material than the outsole.

The front portion 516A particularly has a first set of spaced knuckles517A. The rear portion 516B particularly has a second set of spacedknuckles 517B that are configured to interfit with the spaced knuckles517A to define a pivot axis 518 and a hollow cylinder 519 through whicha pivot pin 520 extends to pivotably connect the front portion 516A tothe rear portion 516B. The connecting member 516 may be secured byadhesive, co-molding, insert molding, or otherwise, to the midsolecomponents 14A, 14B. For example, the front portion 516A may be moldedwith or inserted into the front midsole component 14A particularly sothat the pivot axis 518 is at the top of the rear wall 20 and extendstransversely along the rear wall 20. The rear portion 516B may be moldedwith or inserted onto the top surface of the rear midsole component 14Bparticularly so that the pivot axis 518 is at the top of the front wall22 and extends transversely along the front wall 22.

FIG. 23 is a medial side view of an alternative embodiment of an articleof footwear 610 with a sole structure 612 in a use position. The articleof footwear 610 has many of the same components with the same featuresand functions as described with respect to the article of footwear 10.Like reference numbers are used to refer to the same components andtheir description is not repeated. In the article of footwear 610, theelastic biasing member 650 is removably secured to the sole structure612 particularly via hook-and-loop fasteners 657.

Specifically, each fastener 657 includes a first fastener component 657Aand a second fastener component 657B as described herein with respect toFIGS. 23, 24, and 31 . As described with respect to FIGS. 26-30 , aplate 676 particularly is externally secured to the heel footbed 638 ofthe front midsole component 614A rather than embedded therein.

Accordingly, the article of footwear 610 includes a sole structure 612with a front midsole component 614A and a rear midsole component 614B.The front and rear midsole components 614A, 614B are configured asdescribed with respect to front and rear midsole components 14A, 14B,respectively. A connecting member (e.g., the outsole 616) particularlyconnects the front midsole component 614A to the rear midsole component614B and defines at least one groove 17 particularly at a lower side ofthe sole structure 612 between the front midsole component 614A and therear midsole component 614B. The front midsole component 614A and therear midsole component 614B are pivotable relative to one another at thegroove 17 between a use position (FIG. 23 ) and an access position(which is the same as that in FIG. 3 ) so that confronting surfaces 16A,16B of the connecting member 616 at the groove 17 are closer to oneanother in the access position than in the use position with the groove17 relatively open in the use position and relatively closed in theaccess position.

Specifically, a rear portion of the outsole 616 secured to the rearmidsole component 614B has a concavity 73 that particularly creates aground-contact surface at a medial region 75A at a medial side of theconcavity 73 and at a lateral region 75B at a lateral side of theconcavity 73 with the concavity 73 lifted from the ground plane when thesole structure 612 is in the access position to provide stability, asdescribed with respect to the concavity 73 of FIG. 4 .

Like the sole structure 12, the sole structure 612 particularly rests onthe transversely spaced regions 75A, 75B and on a front region 75C ofthe front portion of the outsole 616 when the sole structure 612 is inthe access position. The regions 75A, 75B, and 75C particularly arespaced apart in a tripod arrangement.

A rear wall 20 of the front midsole component 614A and a front wall 22of the rear midsole component 614B particularly are juxtaposed. Theoutsole 616 connects the front midsole component 614A to the rearmidsole component 614B, is disposed on the rear wall 20 of the frontmidsole component 614A and the front wall 22 of the rear midsolecomponent 614B, and/or defines the groove(s) 17 at a lower side of thesole structure 612 between the front midsole component 614A and the rearmidsole component 614B. The divided footwear upper 18 includes the frontupper portion 18A fixed to the front midsole component 614A and theseparate rear upper portion 18B fixed to the rear midsole component614B.

Although only the medial side 34 of the footwear 610 is shown in FIG. 23, as described with respect to midsole components 14A and 14B of FIGS. 1and 2 , rear edges 60A, 66A of the respective side walls 60, 66 of thefront midsole component 614A and front edges 61A, 63A of the respectiveside walls 61, 63 of the rear midsole component 614B angle forward abovethe groove 17 in the use position. This causes the side walls 61, 63 ofthe rear midsole component 614B to extend partially over the side walls60, 66, respectively, of the front midsole component 614A forward of thegroove 17.

Specifically, one or more interfitting features of the midsolecomponents 614A, 614B are thus disposed both forward and rearward of thegroove 17: the side walls 61, 63 of the rear midsole component 614Boverlaying the side walls 60, 66 of the front midsole component 614Aforward of the groove 17, and/or the rearward-extending heel footbed 638of the front midsole component 614A overlaying the rear midsolecomponent 614B rearward of the groove 17.

The article of footwear 610 may be manufactured by a method thatincludes providing a connecting member 616 with at least one groove 17substantially extending transversely between and separating a forwardexpanse and a rear expanse of the connecting member 616. The method mayinclude connecting the front midsole component 614A to the connectingmember 616 forward of the groove 17, and connecting the rear midsolecomponent 614B to the connecting member 616 rearward of the groove 17,with the front midsole component 614A pivotable relative to the rearmidsole component 614B at the groove(s) 17.

FIG. 24 is a plan view of an interior side of the elastic biasing member650 removed from the article of footwear 610 of FIG. 23 . Thehook-and-loop fasteners 657 each include a first fastener component 657Ato be secured to the interior side of the elastic biasing member 650such as with stitches 659 or alternatively with adhesive or thermalbonding.

The hook-and-loop fasteners 657 each include a second fastener component657B to be secured to the exterior surface of the front or rear midsolecomponents 614A, 614B, as shown in FIGS. 26, 31 and 32 such as withadhesive, stitching, or thermal bonding.

The second fastener components 657B particularly are to be secured tothe front and rear midsole components 614A, 614B at the first, second,and/or third locations 51, 53, 55 described with respect to the articleof footwear 10. The first fastener components 657A are configured toreleasably secure to the second fastener components 657B so that theelastic biasing member 650 is releasably secured to the front and rearmidsole components 614A, 614B at the first, second, and/or thirdlocations, 51, 53, 55, and/or is unsecured to the midsole components614A, 614B between the first location 51 and the second location 53,and/or between the third location 55 and the second location 53.

For example, the first fastener components 657A may be a material thatincludes a plurality of hooks, the second fastener components 657B maybe a material that includes a plurality of loops configured to engagewith the hooks, or either or both of the fastener components 657A, 657Bmay include both hooks and loops. Suitable materials with hooks andloops for the hook-and-loop fasteners 657 are available from 3 MCorporation at 3 M Center, St. Paul, Minnesota under the trade nameVELCRO™.

A first fastener 657 at the first location 51 particularly includes thesecond fastener component 657B shown at the first location 51 in FIG. 31and/or the first fastener component 657A shown at the right in FIG. 24 .A second fastener 657 at the second location 53 in FIG. 26 particularlyincludes the second fastener component 657B secured to the rear wall ofthe rear midsole component 614B and/or the first fastener component 657Ashown at the middle of the elastic biasing member 650 in FIG. 24 . Athird fastener 657 at the third location 55 particularly includes thesecond fastener component 657B shown at the third location 55 in FIG. 31and/or the first fastener component 657A shown at the left in FIG. 24 .

FIG. 25 is a bottom view of the article of footwear 610 of FIG. 23 . Itis evident in FIG. 25 that the outsole 616 particularly is a multi-pieceoutsole, and/or particularly includes gaps 615 between the multiplepieces creating an X pattern below the front midsole component 614Aand/or below the rear midsole component 614B so that the front midsolecomponent 614A and/or the rear midsole component 614B are each exposedin the gaps from below. A portion of the externally-secured plate 676discussed herein is also exposed from below.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the sole structure 612 of FIG. 25taken at lines 26-26 in FIG. 25 . FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view ofonly the front midsole component 614A and the plate 676. FIG. 28 is aplan view of the plate 676, FIG. 29 is a lateral side view of the plate676, and FIG. 30 is a rear view of the plate 676.

As can be seen in FIGS. 26 and 27 , the plate 676 particularly includesan integral rear stiffening portion 678 on a rear of the body 36A todefine a rear periphery P of the heel footbed 638. The plate 676particularly may be secured to the bottom and rear of the body 36A ofthe heel footbed 638, such as with adhesive.

The rear stiffening portion 678 extends around a rear 79 of the body 36Afrom the medial side to the lateral side and extends forward under thebottom 80 of the body 36A. Specifically, the body 36A may be relativelyless hard than the plate 676. For example, the body 36A may have a firsthardness and the plate 676 including the rear stiffening portion 678 mayhave a second hardness greater than the first hardness.

By particularly securing the plate 676 to the bottom of the body 36Arather than embedding it in the body 36A, more of the softer material ofthe body 36A is between the foot and the plate 676. The harder rearstiffening portion 678 particularly may also have a lower coefficient offriction than the body 36A, which may enable the heel footbed 38 to movemore easily past the rear upper portion 18B between the access positionand the use position than would a heel footbed 38 without the rearstiffening portion 678. The rear stiffening portion 678 may be any ofthe materials described with respect to the external stiffening layer78.

The rear stiffening portion 678 also includes at least one tab 682protruding rearward at the rear periphery P. Because the protruding tab682 is of the harder material of the rear stiffening portion 678, thetab 682 can compress and move past softer, compressible portions of therear upper portion 18B and interlock with the rear midsole component614B, which particularly includes a rib 693 and a recess 694 below therib 693.

Specifically, the tab 682 of the rear stiffening portion 678 interfaceswith the rib 693 when the sole structure 612 moves from the accessposition to the use position, and when the sole structure 612 moves fromthe use position to the access position. The extension of the tab 682rearward, and the protrusion of the rib 693 forward causes therelatively soft body 36A at the heel footbed 638 and/or the relativelysoft body 36B of the rear midsole component 614B to elastically deformin the longitudinal direction of the footwear 610 particularly in orderto allow the tab 682 to ride along the exterior surface of the rib 693and move over the rib 693. The plate 676 particularly helps to preventtwisting or buckling of the heel footbed 638 during the deformation.Once the tab 682 moves past the rib 693, the body 36A and/or 36Bresiliently recovers from the elastic deformation by springing back to apre-deformed state.

FIG. 31 is a plan view of the front midsole component 614A of FIG. 27with the second fastener components 657B secured to the medial side wall60 and the lateral sidewall 66 of the front midsole component 614A. FIG.32 is a bottom view of the front midsole component 614A showing thegroove 17. FIG. 33 is a rear view of the front midsole component 614A ofFIG. 27 . As indicated, the front midsole component 614A is a one-piececonfiguration that includes the heel footbed 638.

The following Clauses provide example configurations of an article offootwear disclosed herein.

Clause 1: An article of footwear comprising: a sole structure including:a front midsole component and a rear midsole component; and a connectingmember connecting the front midsole component to the rear midsolecomponent and defining a groove at a lower side of the sole structurebetween the front midsole component and the rear midsole component;wherein the front midsole component and the rear midsole component arepivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use positionand an access position; and wherein confronting surfaces of theconnecting member at the groove are closer to one another in the accessposition than in the use position so that the groove is relatively openin the use position, and the groove is relatively closed in the accessposition.

Clause 2: The article of footwear of Clause 1, wherein a side wall ofthe front midsole component and a side wall of the rear midsolecomponent confront one another above the groove in the use position.

Clause 3: The article of footwear of Clause 2, wherein a rear edge ofthe side wall of the front midsole component and a front edge of theside wall of the rear midsole component angle forward from the groove inthe use position, with the side wall of the rear midsole componentextending partially over the side wall of the front midsole componentforward of the groove.

Clause 4: The article of footwear of Clause 2 or 3, wherein: a frontsurface of the side wall of the rear midsole component is disposed at anacute angle to an exterior side surface of the side wall of the rearmidsole component; and a rear surface of the side wall of the frontmidsole component is disposed at an obtuse angle to an exterior sidesurface of the side wall of the front midsole component.

Clause 5: The article of footwear of Clause 4, wherein the front surfaceof the side wall of the rear midsole component faces the rear surface ofthe side wall of the front midsole component in the use position.

Clause 6: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 2-5, wherein: afront surface of the side wall of the rear midsole component anglesrearward from an outer edge of the front surface to an inner edge of thefront surface; and a rear surface of the side wall of the front midsolecomponent angles rearward from an outer edge of the front surface to aninner edge of the front surface.

Clause 7: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-6, wherein: thefront midsole component includes a heel footbed that extends over thegroove and overlays the rear midsole component in the use position;and/or the heel footbed is spaced apart from the rear midsole componentin the access position.

Clause 8: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-7, wherein thefront midsole component extends in a forefoot region, a midfoot region,and a heel region of the article of footwear in the use position.

Clause 9: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-8, wherein: theheel footbed includes a body, and a plate embedded in or securedexternally to the body; and/or the plate is relatively more rigid thanthe body.

Clause 10: The article of footwear of Clause 9, wherein the plate isentirely rearward of the groove in the use position.

Clause 11: The article of footwear of Clause 9, wherein the plateextends at least to the groove in the use position.

Clause 12: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-11, wherein: thefront midsole component includes a heel footbed that extends over thegroove and overlays the rear midsole component in the use position; theheel footbed includes a body and an external stiffening layer on a rearof the body, the external stiffening layer defining a rear periphery ofthe heel footbed; and the body has a first hardness and the externalstiffening layer has a second hardness greater than the first hardness.

Clause 13: The article of footwear of Clause 12, further comprising: arear upper portion secured to the rear midsole component; wherein theexternal stiffening layer includes a tab protruding rearward at the rearperiphery; and/or wherein the rear upper portion has a protrusion thatprotrudes forward above the heel footbed when the front midsolecomponent and the rear midsole component are in the use position; andwherein the tab compresses the protrusion when the sole structure movesfrom the access position to the use position.

Clause 14: The article of footwear of Clause 12 or 13, wherein: the rearmidsole component includes a rib that projects forward at a rear of afoot-facing surface of the rear midsole component; and/or wherein theexternal stiffening layer includes a tab protruding rearward at the rearperiphery; and/or wherein the tab interfaces with the rib when the solestructure moves from the access position to the use position, the tabbeing disposed below the rib in the use position.

Clause 15: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-14, wherein: therear midsole component includes a body and a stiffening componentdisposed on the body; the stiffening component is relatively harder thanthe body; and/or the stiffening component includes the rib.

Clause 16: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-15, wherein atleast one of the rear midsole component or the heel footbed elasticallydeforms when the tab interfaces with the rib, and resiliently returns toa pre-deformed state when the sole structure is in the use position, therib and the tab locking the sole structure in the use position.

Clause 17: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-16, wherein thestiffening component defines a recess below the rib, and the tab isdisposed in the recess when the sole structure is in the use position.

Clause 18: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-17, wherein: thesole structure includes an outsole; the rear midsole component defines aridge at a rearmost extent of the rear midsole component; and theoutsole wraps upward along the rear midsole component over the ridge.

Clause 19: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-18, furthercomprising: an elastic biasing member fixed to a medial side wall of thefront midsole component and to a lateral side wall of the front midsolecomponent forward of the groove, and fixed to the rear midsole componentrearward of the groove; and wherein the elastic biasing member isbi-stable in the use position and the access position.

Clause 20: The article of footwear of Clause 19, wherein: the elasticbiasing member is fixed to the medial side wall of the front midsolecomponent at a first location, to the rear midsole component at a secondlocation, and to the lateral side wall of the front midsole component ata third location; and the elastic biasing member is unfixed between thefirst location and the second location, and between the second locationand the third location.

Clause 21: The article of footwear of Clause 20, wherein the elasticbiasing member is removably fixed to the medial side wall of the frontmidsole component at the first location with a first fastener, to therear midsole component at the second location with a second fastener,and/or to the lateral side wall of the front midsole component at thethird location with a third fastener.

Clause 22: The article of footwear of Clause 20 or 21, wherein: a rearedge of a side wall of the front midsole component is adjacent to afront edge of a side wall of the rear midsole component above the groovewhen the sole structure is in the use position; and the elastic biasingmember covers the rear edge and the front edge when the sole structureis in the use position.

Clause 23: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-22, wherein: theconnecting member is an outsole; the outsole has a bottom portionsecured to a bottom of the rear midsole component and a rear portionsecured to a rear wall of the rear midsole component; and/or the bottomportion of the outsole is a ground-contact surface with a horizontalground plane in the use position, and/or the rear portion of the outsoleis the ground-contact surface with the horizontal ground plane in theaccess position.

Clause 24: The article of footwear of Clause 23, wherein the rearportion of the outsole has an outer surface with a concavity, and/or theoutsole is spaced apart from the horizontal ground plane at theconcavity in the access position so that the ground-contact surface ofthe rear portion of the outsole includes a medial region at a medialside of the concavity and a lateral region at a lateral side of theconcavity.

Clause 25: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-22, wherein: thesole structure further comprises an outsole having a front bottomportion secured to a bottom of the front midsole component, a rearbottom portion secured to a bottom of the rear midsole component, andhaving a rear portion secured to a rear wall of the rear midsolecomponent; at least one of the rear wall of the rear midsole componentand the rear portion of the outsole has an outer surface with aconcavity; and in the access position, the sole structure is lifted awayfrom a horizontal ground plane at the groove and rests on the frontbottom portion of the outsole and on the rear bottom portion of theoutsole at a medial side of the concavity and at a lateral side of theconcavity with the concavity spaced apart from the horizontal groundplane.

Clause 26: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-22, wherein theconnecting member comprises an outsole defining the groove and lining arear wall of the front midsole component and a front wall of the rearmidsole component at the groove.

Clause 27: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-26, wherein theconnecting member comprises a textile component.

Clause 28: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-27, wherein theconnecting member comprises a plate defining the groove and secured to arear wall of the front midsole component and to a front wall of the rearmidsole component at the groove.

Clause 29: The article of footwear of Clause 28, further comprising: arib secured at a wall of the connecting member in the groove andextending outward into the groove.

Clause 30: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-29, wherein theconnecting member includes a front portion connected to the frontmidsole component and a rear portion connected to the rear midsolecomponent, and the connecting member further comprises a hinge pinextending transversely relative to and hingedly connecting the frontportion of the connecting member to the rear portion of the connectingmember.

Clause 31: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-30, furthercomprising: a divided footwear upper including a front upper portionfixed to the front midsole component and a separate rear upper portionfixed to the rear midsole component; wherein at least parts of the frontupper portion and the rear upper portion are spaced further apart fromone another in the access position than in the use position.

Clause 32: The article of footwear of Clause 31, wherein the rear upperportion includes an elastic heel band.

Clause 33: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 1-32, wherein therear midsole component is separate from, not directly connected to, andnon-integral with the front midsole component.

Clause 34: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the methodcomprising: providing a connecting member with a front portion, a rearportion, and a groove extending transversely between and separating thefront portion and the rear portion; connecting a front midsole componentto the front portion of the connecting member; and connecting a rearmidsole component to the rear portion of the connecting member, with thefront midsole component pivotable relative to the rear midsole componentat the groove.

Clause 35: The method of Clause 34, further comprising: molding theconnecting member to form the front portion, the rear portion, and thegroove prior to connecting the front midsole component to the frontportion and the rear midsole component to the rear portion.

Clause 36: The method of Clause 35, wherein connecting the front midsolecomponent to the front portion of the connecting member and connectingthe rear midsole component to the rear portion of the connecting memberis by molding the front midsole component to the front portion of theconnecting member and molding the rear midsole component to the rearportion of the connecting member.

Clause 37: The method of Clause 35, further comprising: connecting afront portion of an outsole to the front portion midsole componentforward of the connecting member; and connecting a rear portion of theoutsole to the rear portion of the midsole component rearward of theconnecting member.

Clause 38: The method of any of Clauses 34-37, wherein the connectingmember is an outsole.

Clause 39: The method of any of Clauses 34-37, wherein the connectingmember is a textile component, and the method further comprises:connecting a front portion of an outsole to a front portion of a textilecomponent; and connecting a rear portion of an outsole to a rear portionof the textile component.

Clause 40: The method of any of Clauses 34-39, further comprisingsecuring a rib at a wall of the connecting member in the groove.

Clause 41: The method of any of Clauses 34-40, wherein the connectingmember, the front midsole component, and the rear midsole component areco-molded.

Clause 42: The method of any of Clauses 34-41, wherein connecting thefront midsole component to the front portion of the connecting memberand connecting the rear midsole component to the rear portion of theconnecting member is by printing the front midsole component to thefront portion of the connecting member and printing the rear midsolecomponent to the rear portion of the connecting member.

Clause 45: An article of footwear comprising: a sole structureincluding: a front midsole component and a separate rear midsolecomponent; wherein a rear wall of the front midsole component and afront wall of the rear midsole component are juxtaposed; and an outsoleconnecting the front midsole component to the rear midsole component anddisposed on the rear wall of the front midsole component and the frontwall of the rear midsole component and defining a groove at a lower sideof the sole structure between the front midsole component and the rearmidsole component; and a divided footwear upper including a front upperportion fixed to the front midsole component and a separate rear upperportion fixed to the rear midsole component; wherein the front midsolecomponent and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to oneanother at the groove between a use position and an access position.

Clause 46: The article of footwear of Clause 45, wherein the outsolelines the rear wall and the front wall.

Clause 47: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 45-46, wherein thefront midsole component includes a heel footbed that extends over thegroove and overlays the rear midsole component in the use position; andwherein rear edges of side walls of the front midsole component andfront edges of side walls of the rear midsole component angle forwardabove the groove in the use position, the side walls of the rear midsolecomponent extending partially over the side walls of the front midsolecomponent forward of the groove.

Clause 48: The article of footwear of Clause 47, wherein the heelfootbed is spaced apart from the rear upper portion in the accessposition, extending rearward and upward from the front midsolecomponent.

Clause 49: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 45-48, wherein: therear midsole component protrudes rearward of the rear upper portion to aridge above the rear wall of the rear midsole component; and the outsolewraps upward along the rear midsole component over the ridge.

Clause 50: The article of footwear of any of Clauses 45-49, furthercomprising:

an elastic strap fixed to a medial side wall of the front midsolecomponent at a first location, to the rear midsole component at a secondlocation, and to a lateral side wall of the front midsole component at athird location and unfixed between the first location and the secondlocation, and between the second location and the third location.

To assist and clarify the description of various embodiments, variousterms are defined herein. Unless otherwise indicated, the followingdefinitions apply throughout this specification (including the claims).Additionally, all references referred to are incorporated herein intheir entirety.

An “article of footwear”, a “footwear article of manufacture”, and“footwear” may be considered to be both a machine and a manufacture.Assembled, ready to wear footwear articles (e.g., shoes, sandals, boots,etc.), as well as discrete components of footwear articles (such as amidsole, an outsole, an upper component, etc.) prior to final assemblyinto ready to wear footwear articles, are considered and alternativelyreferred to herein in either the singular or plural as “article(s) offootwear”.

“A”, “an”, “the”, “at least one”, and “one or more” are usedinterchangeably to indicate that at least one of the items is present. Aplurality of such items may be present unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. All numerical values of parameters (e.g., ofquantities or conditions) in this specification, unless otherwiseindicated expressly or clearly in view of the context, including theappended claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instancesby the term “about” whether or not “about” actually appears before thenumerical value. “About” indicates that the stated numerical valueallows some slight imprecision (with some approach to exactness in thevalue; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If theimprecision provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the artwith this ordinary meaning, then “about” as used herein indicates atleast variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring andusing such parameters. In addition, a disclosure of a range is to beunderstood as specifically disclosing all values and further dividedranges within the range.

The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are inclusive andtherefore specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations,elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition ofone or more other features, steps, operations, elements, or components.Orders of steps, processes, and operations may be altered when possible,and additional or alternative steps may be employed. As used in thisspecification, the term “or” includes any one and all combinations ofthe associated listed items. The term “any of” is understood to includeany possible combination of referenced items, including “any one of” thereferenced items. The term “any of” is understood to include anypossible combination of referenced claims of the appended claims,including “any one of” the referenced claims.

For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives may be employedthroughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustratedembodiments. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatterms such as “above”, “below”, “upward”, “downward”, “top”, “bottom”,etc., may be used descriptively relative to the figures, withoutrepresenting limitations on the scope of the invention, as defined bythe claims.

The term “longitudinal” refers to a direction extending a length of acomponent. For example, a longitudinal direction of a shoe extendsbetween a forefoot region and a heel region of the shoe. The term“forward” or “anterior” is used to refer to the general direction from aheel region toward a forefoot region, and the term “rearward” or“posterior” is used to refer to the opposite direction, i.e., thedirection from the forefoot region toward the heel region. In somecases, a component may be identified with a longitudinal axis as well asa forward and rearward longitudinal direction along that axis. Thelongitudinal direction or axis may also be referred to as ananterior-posterior direction or axis.

The term “transverse” refers to a direction extending a width of acomponent. For example, a transverse direction of a shoe extends betweena lateral side and a medial side of the shoe. The transverse directionor axis may also be referred to as a lateral direction or axis or amediolateral direction or axis.

The term “vertical” refers to a direction generally perpendicular toboth the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, in caseswhere a sole is planted flat on a ground surface, the vertical directionmay extend from the ground surface upward. It will be understood thateach of these directional adjectives may be applied to individualcomponents of a sole. The term “upward” or “upwards” refers to thevertical direction pointing towards a top of the component, which mayinclude an instep, a fastening region and/or a throat of an upper. Theterm “downward” or “downwards” refers to the vertical direction pointingopposite the upwards direction, toward the bottom of a component and maygenerally point towards the bottom of a sole structure of an article offootwear.

The “interior” of an article of footwear, such as a shoe, refers toportions at the space that is occupied by a wearer’s foot when the shoeis worn. The “inner side” of a component refers to the side or surfaceof the component that is (or will be) oriented toward the interior ofthe component or article of footwear in an assembled article offootwear. The “outer side” or “exterior” of a component refers to theside or surface of the component that is (or will be) oriented away fromthe interior of the shoe in an assembled shoe. In some cases, othercomponents may be between the inner side of a component and the interiorin the assembled article of footwear. Similarly, other components may bebetween an outer side of a component and the space external to theassembled article of footwear. Further, the terms “inward” and“inwardly” refer to the direction toward the interior of the componentor article of footwear, such as a shoe, and the terms “outward” and“outwardly” refer to the direction toward the exterior of the componentor article of footwear, such as the shoe. In addition, the term“proximal” refers to a direction that is nearer a center of a footwearcomponent or is closer toward a foot when the foot is inserted in thearticle of footwear as it is worn by a user. Likewise, the term “distal”refers to a relative position that is further away from a center of thefootwear component or is further from a foot when the foot is insertedin the article of footwear as it is worn by a user. Thus, the termsproximal and distal may be understood to provide generally opposingterms to describe relative spatial positions.

While various embodiments have been described, the description isintended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparentto those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments andimplementations are possible that are within the scope of theembodiments. Any feature of any embodiment may be used in combinationwith or substituted for any other feature or element in any otherembodiment unless specifically restricted. Accordingly, the embodimentsare not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims andtheir equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be madewithin the scope of the attached claims.

While several modes for carrying out the many aspects of the presentteachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art towhich these teachings relate will recognize various alternative aspectsfor practicing the present teachings that are within the scope of theappended claims. It is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and exemplary of the entire range of alternativeembodiments that an ordinarily skilled artisan would recognize asimplied by, structurally and/or functionally equivalent to, or otherwiserendered obvious based upon the included content, and not as limitedsolely to those explicitly depicted and/or described embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of footwear comprising: a solestructure including: a front midsole component and a rear midsolecomponent; and a connecting member connecting the front midsolecomponent to the rear midsole component and defining a groove at a lowerside of the sole structure between the front midsole component and therear midsole component; wherein the front midsole component and the rearmidsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groovebetween a use position and an access position; wherein confrontingsurfaces of the connecting member at the groove are closer to oneanother in the access position than in the use position so that thegroove is relatively open in the use position, and the groove isrelatively closed in the access position; wherein the front midsolecomponent includes a heel footbed that extends over the groove andoverlays the rear midsole component in the use position; wherein therear midsole component includes a rib that projects over a foot-facingsurface of the rear midsole component; wherein the heel footbed includesa tab protruding at a periphery of the heel footbed; wherein the tabinterfaces with the rib when the sole structure moves from the accessposition to the use position, the tab being disposed below the rib inthe use position.
 2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein therear midsole component includes a stiffening component that defines therib and a recess below the rib, and the tab is disposed in the recesswhen the sole structure is in the use position.
 3. The article offootwear of claim 1, wherein the heel footbed includes a body and anexternal stiffening layer on a periphery of the body, the externalstiffening layer defining the tab.
 4. The article of footwear of claim3, wherein the body has a first hardness and the external stiffeninglayer has a second hardness greater than the first hardness.
 5. Thearticle of footwear of claim 1, wherein a side wall of the front midsolecomponent and a side wall of the rear midsole component confront oneanother above the groove in the use position.
 6. The article of footwearof claim 5, wherein a rear edge of the side wall of the front midsolecomponent and a front edge of the side wall of the rear midsolecomponent angle forward from the groove in the use position, with theside wall of the rear midsole component extending partially over theside wall of the front midsole component forward of the groove.
 7. Thearticle of footwear of claim 5, wherein: a front surface of the sidewall of the rear midsole component is disposed at an acute angle to anexterior side surface of the side wall of the rear midsole component;and a rear surface of the side wall of the front midsole component isdisposed at an obtuse angle to an exterior side surface of the side wallof the front midsole component.
 8. The article of footwear of claim 5,wherein: a front surface of the side wall of the rear midsole componentangles rearward from an outer edge of the front surface to an inner edgeof the front surface; and a rear surface of the side wall of the frontmidsole component angles rearward from an outer edge of the frontsurface to an inner edge of the front surface.
 9. The article offootwear of claim 1, wherein: the heel footbed is spaced apart from therear midsole component in the access position.
 10. The article offootwear of claim 9, wherein: the heel footbed includes a body and aplate embedded in or secured externally to the body; and the plate isrelatively more rigid than the body.
 11. The article of footwear ofclaim 1, wherein: the sole structure includes an outsole; the rearmidsole component defines a ridge at a rearmost extent of the rearmidsole component; and the outsole wraps upward along the rear midsolecomponent over the ridge.
 12. The article of footwear of claim 1,wherein: the sole structure further includes an outsole having a bottomportion secured to a bottom of the rear midsole component and a rearportion secured to a rear wall of the rear midsole component; and thebottom portion of the outsole is a ground-contact surface with ahorizontal ground plane in the use position, and the rear portion of theoutsole is the ground-contact surface with the horizontal ground planein the access position.
 13. The article of footwear of claim 1, furthercomprising: a footwear upper fixed to the sole structure.
 14. Thearticle of footwear of claim 13, wherein the footwear upper isconfigured as a divided footwear upper including a front upper portionfixed to the front midsole component and a separate rear upper portionfixed to the rear midsole component; wherein at least parts of the frontupper portion and the separate rear upper portion are spaced furtherapart from one another in the access position than in the use position.15. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the rear midsolecomponent is non-integral with the front midsole component.
 16. Thearticle of footwear of claim 1, wherein: the rear midsole component isnon-integral with the front midsole component; the connecting memberincludes a front wall secured to the front midsole component, a rearwall secured to the rear midsole component, and a peak at which thefront wall is connected to the rear wall; the front wall, the rear wall,and the peak are one piece; and the front midsole component and the rearmidsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groovebetween the use position and the access position by the connectingmember flexing at the peak.
 17. The article of footwear of claim 1,wherein deformation and recovery of the sole structure provides anauditory and/or sensory signal to a wearer that the sole structure hascompleted movement from the access position to the use position.
 18. Anarticle of footwear comprising: a sole structure including: a frontmidsole component and a rear midsole component; and a connecting memberconnecting the front midsole component to the rear midsole component anddefining a groove at a lower side of the sole structure between thefront midsole component and the rear midsole component; wherein thefront midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotablerelative to one another at the groove between a use position and anaccess position; wherein confronting surfaces of the connecting memberat the groove are closer to one another in the access position than inthe use position so that the groove is relatively open in the useposition, and the groove is relatively closed in the access position;wherein the front midsole component includes a heel footbed that extendsover the groove and overlays the rear midsole component in the useposition, the heel footbed is spaced apart from the rear midsolecomponent in the access position, the heel footbed includes a body and aplate embedded in or secured externally to the body, the plate isrelatively more rigid than the body; and wherein the plate is entirelyrearward of the groove in the use position or the plate extends at leastto the groove in the use position.
 19. The article of footwear of claim18, further comprising: a footwear upper fixed to the sole structure.20. The article of footwear of claim 19, wherein the footwear upper isconfigured as a divided footwear upper including a front upper portionfixed to the front midsole component and a separate rear upper portionfixed to the rear midsole component; and wherein at least parts of thefront upper portion and the separate rear upper portion are spacedfurther apart from one another in the access position than in the useposition.